As part of its commitment to ensuring efficient and effective management of Ghana’s natural resource revenues, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) moved beyond advocacy to push actionable and practical reforms in Ghana’s natural resource sector in 2025.
In practical terms, ACEP committed to ensuring that the “wealth under the feet” of Ghanaians actually puts “food on the table” and drives sustainable and highly impactful socio-economic development.
ACEP’s 2025 report reveals that its Revenue Governance stream delivered a masterclass in how to turn natural resource wealth into a tangible engine for national development. In its report cited by The High Street Journal, a number of milestones were achieved in the area in 2025.
Justice Served: Turning Research into Prosecution
One significant impact of the year was ACEP’s role in dismantling high-level corruption. A rigorous ACEP study exposed deep-seated mismanagement within the petroleum sector, providing what can be described as a “smoking gun” needed for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to initiate formal criminal prosecution against the former CEO and eight others involved in the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund.
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This, ACEP believes, is a landmark victory for accountability in the management of the country’s resource revenues.
Unlocking the Future: Social Fund Reallocation Reform
For years, capping laws limited how much oil and mineral money actually reached social services, which directly impacted Ghanaians. In 2025, ACEP helped to successfully break these chains.
By advocating for the repeal of the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act, ACEP ensured that vital revenue can now flow directly into the GETFund and NHIL.
For the average citizen, this milestone promises better-funded schools and more reliable healthcare, secured by the very resources their country produces.
Plugging the Leaks: Marine Gasoil Subsidy Withdrawal
Fuel smuggling has long been a drain on the national purse, often fueled by misplaced subsidies. ACEP’s strategic advocacy in 2025 led to the withdrawal of Marine Gasoil (MGO) subsidies.
This move did more than just save money; it effectively starved the smuggling networks that thrived on these price distortions, ensuring that petroleum revenue stays within the formal economy where it can benefit the public.
Smarter Investments: MIIF Investment Reform
The Centre was instrumental in amending the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act, successfully redirecting mineral revenues away from non-productive vain investments and toward projects that drive real economic growth.
Parliamentary Budget Oversight
Furthermore, ACEP didn’t wait for the budget to be passed to voice its concerns. The Centre actively participated in the Parliamentary Select Committee of Mines and Energy budget review processes, acting as a public watchdog during the approval of energy sector agency budgets to ensure every cent is justified.
Empowering the Media
Recognizing that transparency requires an informed public, ACEP significantly strengthened media capacity regarding industrial minerals.
By teaching journalists how to analyze the economic potential of minerals like lithium and salt, ACEP has created a new frontline of public scrutiny, ensuring that the “next big thing” in mining doesn’t happen behind closed doors.
The Bottomline
Through these diverse milestones in 2025, ACEP has demonstrated that revenue governance is not just about collecting taxes. It is about safeguarding intergenerational equity and ensuring that Africa’s natural wealth builds a sustainable and inclusive future for all.
