The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is actively seeking strategic partners to help unlock the enormous resource potential of the Volta Basin, an onshore sedimentary basin believed to contain more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Speaking at the West African Gas Summit in Accra, GNPC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Hamis Ussif described the Voltaian Basin as one of Ghana’s most promising untapped energy frontiers and a key part of the country’s long-term energy strategy.
According to him, the basin covers nearly 40 percent of Ghana’s landmass and holds significant opportunities for oil and gas exploration that could transform the economic fortunes of several regions across the country.
“By very conservative estimates, this can unlock over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The potential is very huge, and GNPC is looking for partners at the right time to unlock the resources that exist in this basin,” Mr. Ussif stated.
He explained that many of the regions within the Volta Basin are not known for major mineral resources, making the development of the area particularly important for job creation, investment, and economic growth.
Mr. Ussif noted that GNPC holds equity interests in all petroleum blocks in Ghana as part of national policy and is already participating in exploration activities across the basin alongside private sector operators.
He added that the development of the Voltaian Basin aligns with broader government efforts to strengthen Ghana’s energy sector and establish the country as a leading energy hub in West Africa.
According to him, GNPC’s investments in strategic initiatives, including liquefied natural gas infrastructure and regional pipeline projects, are designed to improve energy distribution across borders while boosting Ghana’s influence in the regional energy market.
“All these projects are to facilitate not only the free flow of these molecules but also to position Ghana to be able to play this role of being the hub of energy in general, not only gas,” he said.
Mr. Ussif further highlighted Ghana’s growing electricity generation capacity, noting that the country already exports power to neighboring nations. He said this provides a strong foundation for Ghana’s ambition to become a major energy center within the sub-region.
With billions of barrels of potential resources believed to lie beneath the Volta Basin, GNPC is hopeful that the right partnerships and investments will help unlock one of the country’s biggest energy opportunities in decades.
