The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for stronger regional cooperation and increased domestic utilisation of natural gas to improve Africa’s energy security while supporting industrial development.
He made the call during a ministerial panel discussion at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and African Energy Chamber (AEC) Strategic Forum held as part of African Energy Week 2026.
The discussion focused on balancing Africa’s domestic natural gas utilisation with its ambitions to expand gas exports.
Dr Jinapor emphasised the need to link upstream gas development to power generation, industrial competitiveness and regional energy integration to ensure that the continent derives maximum benefits from its natural resources.
He said natural gas remained central to Ghana’s electricity generation and energy security, noting that increased gas availability to thermal power plants had helped reduce reliance on liquid fuels.
According to the minister, strengthening domestic gas supply and developing regional energy infrastructure would be critical to building resilient energy systems capable of withstanding global disruptions.
He stressed that African countries must work together to develop their domestic resources and deepen regional gas cooperation to reduce exposure to external energy shocks and strengthen the continent’s collective energy security.
Dr Jinapor also highlighted the potential of the West African Gas Pipeline as a key regional infrastructure asset that could facilitate cross-border gas trade, improve market integration and create shared economic benefits for both producing and consuming countries.
He noted that stronger regional cooperation would help countries maximise the value of their natural gas resources while supporting economic growth and industrialisation.
On Ghana’s energy transition agenda, the minister said the government would continue to pursue a balanced approach that leverages natural gas for reliable electricity generation while accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and other sustainable solutions.
He indicated that natural gas would remain an important part of Ghana’s energy mix as the country works towards a more reliable and sustainable power sector.
The discussions at African Energy Week 2026 form part of broader efforts to address Africa’s energy development priorities, including access to reliable power, industrial growth, cross-border energy trade and the transition towards cleaner energy sources.
Dr Jinapor’s participation underscores Ghana’s position on the need to balance domestic energy requirements with export opportunities while strengthening cooperation among African countries to secure the continent’s long-term energy future.
