In a significant step toward reshaping Ghana’s energy industry, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has officially received the final report from the Petroleum Downstream Sector Reforms Committee (PDSRC). The committee, inaugurated on March 14, 2025, was tasked with diagnosing the current state of the petroleum downstream sector and proposing actionable strategies for improvement.

At a brief but symbolic ceremony, the chairperson of the committee, Emma Bulley, presented the comprehensive report to the Minister. She noted that the sector has long grappled with multiple systemic issues ranging from outdated infrastructure and weak regulatory enforcement to market distortions and illegal activities that undermine fair competition and revenue generation.

“Our assessment uncovered several recurring challenges—non-compliance by service providers, compromised fuel quality, and inefficiencies that hamper operations. These factors collectively affect the performance of the entire value chain,” Ms. Bulley said during the presentation.

Despite the daunting challenges, she expressed strong optimism that the proposed reforms, once executed, could reposition the downstream sector as more efficient, transparent, and globally competitive. She also emphasized the need for collective effort from all players in the industry to bring the proposed changes to life.

Receiving the report, Hon. Jinapor commended the committee for its commitment and thorough approach to the assignment. He assured them that their work would not go to waste.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the committee for the professionalism and hard work invested in this process. Your recommendations will guide us as we work toward a more robust and sustainable petroleum sector,” the Minister stated.

He further stressed that the reform of the downstream petroleum segment forms part of the government’s broader agenda to reset Ghana’s energy landscape. “Fixing the bottlenecks in this sector is key to achieving energy security and efficiency. We’re fully committed to making the necessary adjustments,” he said.

Government officials have confirmed that the next steps will involve a careful review of the report, followed by stakeholder consultations to begin implementing the recommended reforms.
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