Ghana is stepping up efforts to transform its downstream petroleum sector, betting on the expansion of its first privately owned Sentuo refinery alongside upgrades to its state-owned refining infrastructure as it seeks to produce 70% of its fuel domestically.
The ambitious target, announced by Minister of Energy and Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor during the 7th Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon 2026) in Accra, marks the country's latest attempt to reduce its dependence on imported refined petroleum products despite being an oil-producing nation since 2010.
"A refinery is much more than an industrial facility. It creates an ecosystem of economic activity by supporting transport and logistics companies, engineering services, local contractors, manufacturers, technology suppliers and thousands of skilled jobs," Jinapor said during the conference.
The minister added that Ghana aims to become "a leading energy and petroleum hub in West Africa."
The strategy centers on two major refinery projects that could significantly reshape Ghana's energy landscape while adding to West Africa's growing refining capacity.
