GNPC Acting CEO charts strategic reset to revive Ghana’s oil and gas sector
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr Kwame Ntow Amoah, has unveiled a bold roadmap to reverse the decline in oil production and revitalise Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
Speaking at the 8th Africa Energies Summit, Mr Amoah highlighted the corporation’s renewed focus on innovation, investment, and sustainability as the pillars for long-term growth.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme “Taking Ghana to the Next Level: Advancing Oil & Gas Exploration & Production,” Mr Amoah said GNPC’s new upstream agenda seeks to arrest a downward trend in oil production that has seen output plummet from a high of 195,750 barrels per day in 2019 to approximately 110,500 barrels per day in recent years. He identified declining field productivity, limited exploration activity, and policy challenges as key contributors to the drop.
“Achieving sustainable growth in Ghana’s oil and gas sector requires bold thinking and a willingness to embrace innovation,” Mr Amoah told a packed audience of policymakers, industry executives, and global energy stakeholders.
At the core of GNPC’s strategy is the integration of cutting-edge technology to enhance exploration and production. Mr Amoah revealed that the corporation is incorporating Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to improve reservoir management and optimise drilling operations. Advanced seismic technologies such as 4D acquisition and Ocean Bottom Node systems will be deployed to improve subsurface imaging, while non-seismic tools like satellite imagery and Airborne Transient Pulse surveys will help de-risk exploration, especially in the underexplored Voltaian Basin.
In addition to technological advancement, the Acting CEO underscored the need for investor-friendly policies to restore confidence in Ghana’s upstream space. “We need to adopt a new mindset — one that balances strategic investment, technological innovation, and sustainable practices,” he said. Mr Amoah argued that stable fiscal policies and regulatory clarity are essential to attract both local and international investors.
He called for stronger partnerships between oil companies, service providers, and technology firms, urging joint ventures and the consolidation of marginal fields into shared infrastructure to cut costs and improve efficiency. “Multi-operator collaborations are key to unlocking Ghana’s full upstream potential,” he stated.
Mr Amoah emphasised that GNPC, under the guidance of the President and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, is poised to become a centre of excellence in Africa’s oil industry. The corporation will lead efforts to build local capacity and prioritise indigenous expertise while aligning upstream activities with environmental stewardship and global decarbonisation trends.
“Resetting our upstream agenda is not just about boosting production — it’s about creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Ghana,” he concluded.
The session ended with a call to action for stakeholders to support GNPC’s strategic vision, which places Ghana’s energy security and long-term development at the heart of its renewed upstream policy direction.