The Petroleum Commission, last week participated in the 2026 Africa Energies Summit (AES) held in London from 12th to 14th May, as part of efforts to promote investment opportunities in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
The Summit brought together global energy leaders, investors, regulators, and service providers to discuss the future of Africa’s energy industry and emerging investment opportunities. During the Summit, the Commission engaged major international oil companies including Shell, Chevron, Petrobras, Equinor, Heritage Oil, SLB, and TGS, as well as regulators and national oil companies such as PETROCI and Côte d’Ivoire’s Direction Générale des Hydrocarbures (DGH).
The meetings focused on exploration opportunities, regulatory reforms, partnerships, and investment prospects within Ghana’s offshore basins.
A major highlight of the engagements was the confirmation by Shell and Chevron of their partnership to jointly pursue opportunities in the South Deepwater Tano Block. The development was viewed as a strong indication of investor confidence in Ghana’s petroleum sector and deepwater potential.
Speaking during the engagements, the Board Chairman of the Petroleum Commission, Dr. Ernest Thompson, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to creating a competitive and investor-friendly environment.
“Ghana remains committed to building a stable, transparent, and competitive petroleum sector that inspires investor confidence and delivers long-term value for all stakeholders,” Dr. Thompson stated.
The Ag. Deputy CEO of the Commission, Nasir Alfa Mohammed Esq., who also represented Ghana on a high-level panel discussion on Global Forces, Geopolitics and Africa’s Competitive Position, highlighted Ghana’s efforts to strengthen regulatory efficiency, accelerate reforms, and position the country as a stable destination for upstream investment.
“Africa’s competitiveness will not depend only on resource potential, but on certainty, speed, resilience, and strong institutions. Ghana is taking deliberate steps to strengthen these fundamentals,” Mr. Mohammed emphasised.
The Summit also provided an opportunity for the Commission to deepen regional cooperation through engagements with PETROCI and DGH of Côte d’Ivoire on knowledge-sharing and possible institutional collaboration.
Overall, the Summit highlighted the growing global interest in Africa’s oil and gas sector and the need for competitive policies, clear regulations, and faster approval processes to attract investors. The Petroleum Commission’s participation further promoted Ghana as an attractive destination for oil and gas investment in AfricaBottom of Form.