Ghana is set to overhaul its petroleum downstream sector as the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, receives a major reform report from the Petroleum Downstream Sector Reforms Committee. The move is expected to unlock business opportunities and improve efficiency in the energy value chain.
The PDSRC, inaugurated on March 14, 2025, was mandated to undertake a holistic review of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector and recommend structural reforms to enhance efficiency, transparency, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.
Presenting the findings in Accra, Committee Chairperson Emma Bulley, Esq. did not mince words about the challenges plaguing the sector.
“The Downstream Petroleum has been plagued with a myriad of challenges, including infrastructure bottlenecks, regulatory lapses, non-compliance by some Petroleum Service Providers (PSPs), operational inefficiencies, market constraints, illicit activities leading to unhealthy competition, compromised product quality and revenue loss to the state,” she stated.
Despite the sobering diagnosis, Bulley remained optimistic. “Fortunately, the Committee has made a number of recommendations. Implementing these reforms will transform Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector into a resilient and competitive one. We expect the full commitment of all stakeholders.”
The report, though yet to be made public, is expected to propose far-reaching solutions—including regulatory tightening, infrastructure investment, digitalization of operations, and market reforms aimed at tackling illicit trading and restoring investor confidence.
Minister Jinapor, who is spearheading the government’s broader “Reset Ghana” agenda, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to overhauling the energy sector.
“I want to thank the members of the committee and all stakeholders for the commitment and professionalism. I had absolute confidence that the members of the committee would deliver nothing short of excellence.
We pledged to reset Ghana, including the energy sector. The downstream is a crucial part of the sector and we aim to enhance regulation while dealing with operational inefficiencies and infrastructural bottlenecks.” he said.
The Committee brought together a blend of industry veterans and policy experts, including Emma Bulley, Esq. (Chairperson), Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Ing. James D. Yamoah, Abass Ibrahim Tasunti, Joshua Anaman Sackey, Samuel Mills Anderson, Dr. Patrick Kwaku Ofori, Dr. Riverson Oppong, Gershon Klutse, and Isaac Kofi Ampofo (Secretary).
With the report now in the Minister’s hands, industry observers anticipate a wave of policy reforms and stakeholder consultations that could reshape the downstream petroleum value chain in Ghana for years to come.
