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The government is set to introduce a new National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Act as part of sweeping reforms to modernise Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector and align it with global energy transition targets.
When completed, the new legislation will strengthen the NPA’s mandate by empowering the authority to integrate cleaner and alternative fuels into the national energy mix.
The reforms will also enhance transparency in pricing, ensure stricter consumer protection measures and streamline taxes and levies across the petroleum value chain.
Launching the 20th anniversary celebration of NPA in Accra last Friday, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, stated that the global energy landscape was shifting rapidly towards renewables, and Ghana must prepare its regulatory systems accordingly.
“Our objective is simple — to position the NPA as a regulator for the future: responsive, innovative, digital, and environmentally aligned with our national development goals,” he stated.
The ceremony, which was marked with excitement, also served as a platform for unveiling the anniversary logo.
It was graced by dignitaries such as the Board Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Moses Asaga; former CEOs of NPA, Alexander Mould and John Attafuah; and the Member of Parliament for Gushegu, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana.
Mr Abdulai Jinapor stressed that the new framework would enable the country to remain competitive and resilient as the world transitioned to low-carbon energy sources.
He said the government aim was to equip the authority to, navigate the evolving demands of the sector by modernising the NPA’s systems and strengthening its institutional capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s strong and unwavering support for the NPA, describing it as more than just a regulator, but a symbol of national progress and an essential pillar of Ghana’s economic engine.
The Energy Minister stressed that the downstream sector influenced every part of the economy — from transport to agriculture and industry — making it crucial for the authority to be empowered for the next phase of energy transformation.
The minister stated that the country was rapidly becoming Africa’s leading hub for electric vehicles (EVs) with the highest number of EVs on the continent.
He said the shift toward electric mobility was being driven by both technological change and the rising cost-efficiency of cleaner energy alternatives.
He explained that some Ghanaian EV owners saved up to 70 per cent of their monthly fuel expenditure, making electric mobility an increasingly attractive option for households and businesses.
He said this economic advantage was accelerating adoption and encouraging private investors to expand charging infrastructure across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, recounted that the evolution of the authority required bold decisions, including the strategic restructuring of responsibilities to ensure a focused and efficient downstream regulator.
He expressed gratitude to the pioneering leaders—Professor Ivan Addai-Mensah, John Attafuah, and other founding figures—whose resilience, industry knowledge and commitment laid the solid foundation upon which the NPA continued to thrive.
Mr Tameklo also paid tribute to former CEOs, board chairpersons, senior industry statesmen and long-serving staff whose leadership, guidance and institutional memory had shaped the authority’s progress over the last two decades.
Reflecting on the NPA’s 20-year journey, he stressed that the authority had stayed true to its mission and values, strengthening deregulation, promoting fair competition, safeguarding consumer interests and contributing significantly to national energy stability.
Looking ahead, the NPA CEO affirmed that the next chapter of the NPA would focus on innovation, cleaner fuels, renewable energy integration and strong stakeholder collaboration to support the government’s vision for a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.
