Ghana: A gas law, a lever for the development of the energy sector, according to Dr. Asante.

The Managing Director of the Ghana National Gas Company, Dr Benjamin KD Asante, stressed the urgent need for Ghana to adopt a "gas law", seen as an essential lever for boosting the country's gas sector.

Ghana, a West African country, has already drawn up a Gas Master Plan that defines the development strategies for its natural gas resources. However, despite the existence of other laws governing the use of natural gas, the absence of gas-specific legislation is an obstacle to the investment needed to fully exploit these resources.

Speaking at the 2024 Stakeholder Roundtable on "Building an effective gas revenue management system: the role of stakeholders", Dr. Asante stressed the crucial importance of access to capital, particularly in Africa, where infrastructure development requires significant investment.

"To develop a gas infrastructure, access to capital is imperative, especially in our part of the world. It is equally essential to develop a dynamic secondary market," he said.

Currently, around 85-90% of natural gas in Ghana is used for power generation. However, Dr. Asante stressed the urgency of diversifying gas use into non-energy applications, while calling for an acceleration of the passage of the "Gas Law".

"We must now move swiftly towards finalizing and implementing this law. It is the keystone that will make all the initiatives we are discussing a reality", he asserted.

The General Manager also called for greater involvement of the private sector, easier access to financing, and the inclusion of local content provisions to strengthen national skills and ensure the sustainability of the sector.

"It is essential to guarantee access to financing and promote greater private sector participation in the industry. This is one of the most effective ways of supporting the sector's growth. We also need strong local content policies to build capacity and ensure long-term sustainability," he added.