The Petroleum Commission, Ghana has stepped up efforts to attract fresh investment into the country’s upstream oil and gas sector, using one of Africa’s energy gatherings as a platform to promote regulatory stability and new exploration opportunities.
A delegation led by Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nasir Alfa Mohammed, Esq attended the 2026 Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, known as SAIPEC, held from 10th to 12th February at the Eko Convention Center in Lagos.
The annual conference, organised by Global Event Partners Ltd and hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria in partnership with key Nigerian energy institutions, drew delegates from 16 countries across four continents.
Speaking during a high-level regulatory panel on unlocking Africa’s energy potential, Mr. Mohammed highlighted Ghana’s transformation since its first large scale commercial oil discovery in 2007.
“Ghana’s upstream petroleum journey has been anchored on institutional strengthening, policy consistency and deliberate legislative reform,” he said. “Our focus has been to build regulatory certainty and sustain investor confidence even in a volatile global energy environment.”
He noted that the current administration is pursuing targeted reforms aimed at revitalising exploration activity, alongside renewed engagement with international oil companies and indigenous operators.
Mr. Mohammed also pointed to untapped opportunities across Ghana’s sedimentary basins, with particular emphasis on the Voltaian Basin.
“The Voltaian Basin represents one of the most promising frontiers for strategic partnerships,” he told the conference. “We are inviting credible investors to join us in unlocking its potential.”
In a separate session focused on local participation, the Commission’s Director for Economics and Local Content, Kwaku Boateng, outlined Ghana’s experience in implementing its Petroleum Local Content and Local Participation Regulations.
“Our local content framework has delivered measurable progress in indigenous participation, skills development and value retention,” Mr. Boateng said. “We believe Ghana’s model can serve as a reference point for deeper continental collaboration.”
Beyond the panel discussions, the Ghanaian delegation used the exhibition segment to showcase upstream opportunities to investors, financiers and technology providers.
Industry discussions at the Conference also underscored the growing role of African financial institutions in supporting energy development. Participants highlighted institutions such as Afreximbank and the newly established African Energy Bank, headquartered in Nigeria, as critical to mobilising capital for African led projects.
SAIPEC, originally launched in 2016 as the West Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, has evolved into a leading Sub-Saharan platform for energy dialogue and investment promotion. This year’s tenth anniversary edition placed strong emphasis on technology transfer, innovation, skills development and sustainable financing across the continent.
The Conference also saw the launch of the African Local Content Association; an initiative aimed at coordinating local content development efforts across African energy markets.
The Petroleum Commission remains confident that the engagements in Lagos will result in new exploratory activities, reinforcing the country’s position as a stable and competitive destination for upstream oil and gas investment in Africa.