Sankofa Events has officially launched the highly anticipated Africa Oil Week 2025 at the prestigious Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana.
The relocation of Africa Oil Week (AOW) from Cape Town to Accra not only underscores Ghana’s rising prominence in the energy sector but also reaffirms West Africa’s growing influence in shaping the future of Africa’s natural resources.
The launch event was attended by industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders, highlighting Ghana’s strategic importance in the African and global energy landscape.
In his goodwill message, Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, described the launch as a “pivotal point for both Ghana and the continent,” emphasizing Ghana’s readiness to take on a leadership role within Africa’s energy industry.
“I am therefore personally delighted to endorse Africa Oil Week and to welcome its move from Cape Town to Accra,” he stated, expressing gratitude to Sankofa Events for choosing Ghana as the host of such a significant gathering.
The President’s endorsement further cements Ghana’s commitment to fostering sustainable energy development and its dedication to empowering African nations to drive their own energy agendas.
The decision to host AOW 2025 in Accra reflects Ghana’s long-term energy aspirations, including strengthening its position as a leader in energy policy, investment, and technology across the continent.
Paul Sinclair, CEO of Sankofa Events, underscored Africa Oil Week’s mission, emphasizing the event’s role in shaping a new path for Africa’s natural resource management.
“Africa Oil Week is about Africa charting its own course for natural resource development and finding the right partners who share a vision of equitable growth in the sector,” he said at the official press launch.
Sinclair highlighted the pressing need for African countries to secure energy access for their citizens while asserting a meaningful role on the global energy stage.
With a broad vision that encompasses both immediate energy challenges and long-term goals, AOW 2025 is expected to foster collaborative frameworks and partnerships, promoting energy policies that are both inclusive and growth-oriented.
For Africa’s oil and gas-rich nations, the event is seen as an opportunity to explore innovative solutions and attract sustainable investments that can drive economic growth and foster self-sufficiency.
Building a Premier Energy Dialogue for Africa’s Future
Hon. Herbert Krapa, Ghana’s Minister of State for Energy, emphasized the government’s commitment to making Africa Oil Week a leading platform for energy dialogue on the continent.
“Our goal is to make it the premier energy dialogue on the continent, setting the stage for transformative discussions and partnerships that will propel Africa’s energy future.”
Hon. Herbert Krapa, Ghana’s Minister of State for Energy
Bringing Africa Oil Week to Accra, Ghana aims to establish itself as the center of groundbreaking energy discussions that will address the challenges and opportunities across the continent.
The Minister’s statement reflects Ghana’s focus on fostering partnerships that will support Africa’s sustainable energy transition, address climate challenges, and promote energy equity.
The Petroleum Commission Ghana has long sought to position the country as a competitive player in the oil and gas sector. Egbert Faibille Junior, CEO of the Petroleum Commission, lauded the arrival of Africa Oil Week in Ghana as a “landmark occasion for the continent.”
He stated that the event aligns perfectly with the Commission’s mission to strengthen Ghana’s upstream potential and create frameworks that attract investment and spur innovation in oil and gas development.
West Africa’s Rise in the Oil and Gas Sector
One of the most notable aspects of the event’s relocation to Ghana is the symbolic rise of West Africa within the oil and gas sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Africa Prosperity Network, Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the organization’s Founder and Executive Chairman, expressed that Africa Oil Week’s shift to Ghana represents a recognition of West Africa’s vital role in global hydrocarbons.
“Eight of the world’s thirteen leading oil-producing countries are in Africa,” he noted, adding that the event’s relocation signifies the growing importance of this region in shaping Africa’s future energy strategies.
In addition to positioning Ghana as a leader in energy, Otchere-Darko noted that the event aligns with Ghana’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Ghana hosts the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and what is happening on the continent is that we are building a single market of 1.4 billion people that translates into about a $3.4 trillion economy and growing, and the more we integrate, the bigger the economy.”
Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Executive Chairman for Africa Prosperity Network
This single market could provide opportunities for African countries to capitalize on the AfCFTA, positioning the continent as a more integrated and competitive player in global trade, including the energy market.
The decision to host Africa Oil Week 2025 in Accra represents more than a change of location; it marks a significant moment in Africa’s energy narrative.
With leaders and stakeholders from across the continent gathering in Ghana, the event promises to spark transformative conversations and initiatives that will shape the future of energy in Africa. As Ghana rises to the occasion, it stands ready to drive the continent toward a sustainable, self-sufficient, and prosperous energy future.
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