President John Dramani Mahama has called on energy sector stakeholders across the continent to intensify efforts to close Africa’s widening energy gap.
Speaking at the opening session of the 2025 Africa Oil Week in Accra, President Mahama noted that over 600 million Africans still live without access to electricity, while more than 1 billion lack clean cooking solutions.
He stressed that these challenges must be addressed collectively if Africa is to achieve meaningful development.
The annual forum has brought together over 1,200 delegates from across Africa and beyond to discuss the growth of the oil and gas upstream industry, attract investment, and explore new partnerships.
Mahama urged participants to focus on practical strategies that will improve energy access and reduce costs.
He further called for innovative financing models and stronger collaboration to ensure Africa is not left behind in the global energy transition.
“AOW:Energy is here to stay. It is more than just an event—it is a movement run with African interests first. This is a platform for Africa, by Africa, and it is a moment of national pride for Ghana to host it. Together, we will align our goals, unlock more production, and deliver prosperity for our people,” he said.
According to him, the continent has both the resources and the capacity to drive growth in the energy sector, provided its leaders act decisively.
“Africa holds nearly 10 percent of the world’s proven reserves and significant gas deposits, with a substantial portion of these resources still untapped. These resources present an opportunity to transform our continent from a primary exporter of raw commodities to a hub of value addition, boosting our petrochemical potential and industry growth,” he added.
Source: Kwame Anum
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