The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has urged ECOWAS member states to strengthen energy trade among themselves to improve regional energy security and reduce exposure to external supply disruptions.
Speaking at the opening of the 16th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers in Charge of Energy in Accra, Dr Jinapor called for greater cooperation among West African countries, arguing that stronger regional trade would help the sub-region manage global energy shocks and reduce dependence on external suppliers.
He cited Nigeria’s supply of natural gas to Ghana as an example of the benefits of regional energy cooperation, saying the arrangement demonstrated how countries in the sub-region could support one another’s energy needs.
“We should be able to go to Nigeria and get that gas, so that we can trade amongst ourselves and reduce the risk. Since we assumed our phase, Nigeria has been helping us with consistent flow of gas. We’ve also been reciprocating by ensuring that we make regular payments,” he said.
Nigeria supplies Ghana with natural gas through the 678-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline, which also serves Benin and Togo. Reuters reported in September 2026 that Ghana imports about 70 million standard cubic feet of gas per day from Nigeria.
The gas supports electricity generation and industrial activity, making the pipeline an important part of regional energy cooperation. Actual deliveries can vary, however, and Ghana also relies on gas produced locally.
Dr Jinapor pointed to disruptions and uncertainty surrounding trade through the Strait of Hormuz as a reminder of the risks countries face when energy supplies depend heavily on international routes and markets. He argued that stronger intra-African trade could help cushion the region against such external shocks.
The ongoing US-Iran conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and petroleum products passed before the war.
Attacks on commercial vessels and uncertainty over safe passage have reduced oil flows and increased shipping and insurance costs, pushing global crude oil prices higher. On October 19, Brent crude traded at about US$108.52 a barrel, after reaching its highest level since May, as markets remained concerned about further supply disruptions.
These pressures have contributed to higher fuel costs, with countries such as Ghana exposed to fluctuations in international oil price
He also highlighted Ghana’s efforts to strengthen domestic petroleum refining, citing the revival of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and operations at the Sentuo Oil Refinery as part of efforts to improve the country’s capacity to process crude oil locally.
The Minister noted that the recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East had reinforced the need for countries to process more of their crude domestically rather than depend heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
Ghana has been working to expand local refining capacity. TOR resumed refining operations in June 2026 after receiving one million barrels of crude oil, while Sentuo is pursuing a second-phase expansion that is expected to increase its capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day when completed.
The broader push for regional energy trade comes as West African countries seek to improve energy security through cross-border cooperation, stronger infrastructure and better use of the region’s available energy resources.
The 16th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers in Charge of Energy provides a regional platform to discuss energy security, cross-border trade and cooperation on shared infrastructure. Key challenges in regional gas cooperation include supply reliability, pipeline security, tariffs and infrastructure expansion.
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