A coalition of civil society organizations is urging President John Dramani Mahama to fast-track construction of the proposed Ghana Gas GPP-II plant, warning that escalating tensions in the Middle East could expose Ghana to renewed energy price shocks and economic strain.
The groups are seeking an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to press for immediate approval of the second gas processing facility. They argue that while the government has emphasized energy security as central to its industrialisation agenda and 24-hour economy policy, those commitments must now be backed by concrete infrastructure.
In May of 2025, Energy Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, at the Africa Energy Forum, held alongside the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), made mention of the project, with an intention of the plant enhancing energy reliability for industrial and household use while positioning Ghana as a net exporter of energy to neighboring West African countries.
President Mahama also said in september 2025 that the Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP2) approved for construction, will create 1000 jobs and save Ghana $ 500m every 2 years.
The call comes amid heightened instability in the Middle East, a critical hub for global oil and gas supplies. Rising conflict has intensified concerns about supply disruptions and price volatility, posing risks for import-dependent economies such as Ghana. With the middle east being a global gas hub, there might be a spillover effects similar to those triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted global energy and commodity markets, accelerated inflation and strained public finances across emerging markets.
According to the CSOs, “Government has made strong verbal commitments to energy security as the backbone of industrialisation and the 24-hour economy policy,” the group said in a statement. “But the volatile global landscape demands immediate physical infrastructure to back those words. It is now or never.”
The proposed GPP-II facility would expand domestic gas processing capacity alongside existing operations of the Ghana National Gas Company. Supporters say the project would reduce reliance on imported liquid fuels, stabilize feedstock supply to thermal power plants and strengthen the country’s energy base for industrial growth.
Ghana’s power sector has in the past grappled with fuel supply constraints and foreign exchange pressures linked to emergency imports. Expanding domestic gas processing, analysts say, could reduce exposure to global price swings and ease fiscal risks during periods of market stress.
The coalition warned that postponing the project could leave the country vulnerable if Middle East tensions escalate further, potentially affecting shipping routes and export flows. The experience of the Russia-Ukraine conflict illustrates how geopolitical crises can quickly translate into inflation, currency volatility and broader macroeconomic instability.
With energy reliability underpinning Ghana’s industrial strategy and export competitiveness, the timing of a final decision on GPP-II could prove critical as global risks intensify.
