Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Kwame Ntow Amoah, has reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to driving innovation, research, and local capacity in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
He urged stronger collaboration among policymakers, investors, and industry players to revitalise exploration and production through technology and homegrown competence.
Speaking at the 2025 Local Content Conference and Exhibition, Mr. Amoah described GNPC as “the cornerstone of Ghana’s exploration and production future,” noting that its leadership over the past four decades continues to shape the country’s energy ambitions.
He said GNPC’s evolution from exploration partner to operator underscores its expanding role in building a technologically advanced, self-sufficient petroleum industry that creates enduring value for Ghanaians.
“For over four decades, GNPC has stood at the centre of Ghana’s upstream story, from the discovery of Jubilee to the rise of new opportunities in the Voltaian Basin, and to our ongoing march toward operatorship.
“Local content must evolve beyond sheer percentages to become a catalyst for competitiveness, sustainability, and growth.”
Kwame Ntow Amoah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC
Mr. Amoah commended the Petroleum Commission for sustaining the national conversation on local content, saying the theme reflects the urgent need for reform and forward-thinking strategies to strengthen Ghana’s oil and gas industry amid the global energy transition.
“Revitalising Ghana’s exploration and production sector demands innovation and reinvention.
“It requires that we leverage technology, build domestic expertise, and create value chains that are both inclusive and globally competitive.”
Kwame Ntow Amoah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC
GNPC’s Voltaian Basin Project
Highlighting GNPC’s ongoing initiatives, the CEO pointed to the Corporation’s Voltaian Basin Project, which aims to deliver Ghana’s first inland drilling programme, as a major step toward diversifying exploration beyond the country’s offshore basins.
He also announced the completion of the GNPC Research and Technology Centre, designed as a regional hub for data integration, energy research, and industry-academia collaboration.
“Advancing work in the Voltaian Basin Project and establishing GNPC’s Research & Technology Centre, GNPC continues to build the systems, partnerships, and people that define Ghana’s upstream future.”
Kwame Ntow Amoah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC
He explained that the Research and Technology Centre would not only strengthen GNPC’s operational efficiency but also serve as a knowledge base for industry-wide innovation, research, and capacity building.
The GNPC chief further highlighted the Corporation’s partnerships with the Association of Ghanaian Suppliers in the Petroleum Industry (AGSPI) to improve vendor relationships, expand business opportunities, and embed local enterprises across the oil and gas value chain.
“Revitalisation and redefinition are about growing together with local enterprises in a mutually beneficial partnership.
“We want the nation’s resources to create real opportunities for our people, our businesses, and our communities.”
Kwame Ntow Amoah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC
Focus on Innovation
Mr. Amoah emphasised that the Corporation’s renewed focus on innovation and capacity-building was central to its mission of transforming GNPC into a technology-driven, commercially competitive national oil company.
“The revitalisation of Ghana’s petroleum sector is not solely GNPC’s task; it is a shared responsibility. To truly drive innovation and redefine local content, we need alignment across policy, investment, and people.”
Kwame Ntow Amoah, Acting Chief Executive Officer of GNPC
The conference, which drew participants from across the energy value chain, including international oil companies, service providers, financiers, and academics, provided a platform for dialogue on innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
Over three days, the discussions are expected to focus on practical solutions to financing, operational efficiency, and local capacity development within Ghana’s oil and gas industry.
As Ghana navigates the twin challenges of energy transition and economic transformation, Mr. Amoah’s call for innovation-driven collaboration reflects GNPC’s broader vision, one that positions the national oil company not merely as a participant, but as a strategic architect of the country’s energy future.
