Ghana’s fuel imports from Nigeria in 2025 exposed the country’s refining capacity gap, as limited domestic processing capacity continues to leave imported petroleum products filling the shortfall between local supply and rising demand.
Mineral fuels and oils accounted for 81.1 percent of Ghana’s imports from Nigeria in 2025, a sharp increase from 23.0 percent in 2024, according to the Ghana Statistical Service’s latest trade statistics report. The 58-percentage-point jump marks a significant shift in Ghana’s import structure and underlines Nigeria’s growing role in meeting the country’s energy needs.
The development comes as Ghana continues to depend heavily on imported refined petroleum products despite having oil production capabilities and a domestic refining asset in the Tema Oil Refinery, which has struggled over the years with operational and financial constraints.
Nigeria emerged as Ghana’s largest source of imports from Africa in 2025, accounting for 31.9 percent of the continent’s supplies into Ghana, more than twice the contribution of South Africa at 11.6 percent. Overall imports from Africa stood at GH¢35.6 billion, while exports to the continent reached GH¢70.3 billion, resulting in an intra-African trade surplus of GH¢34.7 billion.
Petroleum products remained at the centre of Ghana’s African import relationship, accounting for 52.0 percent of all imports from the continent. The concentration reflects the growing importance of neighbouring West African suppliers in meeting Ghana’s fuel requirements.
The scale of the fuel gap is evident in Ghana’s overall import bill. Diesel, or automotive gas oil, was the country’s largest import product in 2025, costing GH¢28.5 billion and representing 11.2 percent of total imports. Light oils and motor spirit added another GH¢23.2 billion, together accounting for more than a fifth of Ghana’s total imports.
Nigeria’s increased role in Ghana’s fuel market also coincided with shifts among other regional suppliers. Togo and Côte d’Ivoire entered Ghana’s top five African import sources in 2025, replacing Egypt and Burkina Faso. Imports from Togo reached GH¢2.8 billion, while Côte d’Ivoire supplied GH¢2.1 billion worth of goods, with petroleum products making up a significant share of both trade flows.
Diesel accounted for 56.4 percent of imports from Togo, while crude petroleum oils represented 32.1 percent of imports from Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing the dominance of energy products in Ghana’s regional trade relationships.
The trend contrasts with Ghana’s own petroleum export profile. Mineral fuels and oils generated GH¢35.3 billion in exports in 2025, with China absorbing 41.4 percent of those exports. This leaves Ghana positioned as a net importer of petroleum products within the region despite maintaining an overall trade surplus with Africa.
Ghana’s growing reliance on neighbouring suppliers is a reminder that energy security cannot be built solely on access to external markets. While regional fuel trade provides an immediate solution to supply needs, it also exposes the cost of years of underinvestment in domestic refining capacity.
The challenge now is whether Ghana can move beyond importing finished petroleum products and build the infrastructure needed to process more of its own energy resources. Strengthening refining capacity and improving energy resilience will be critical if Ghana is to reduce its exposure to external disruptions and retain more value within its own economy.
