Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang has called for greater investment in Africa’s energy future, stressing the need to develop the continent’s resources to better serve Africans.
The Vice President made the call when she addressed the 31st edition of Africa Oil Week 2026, an annual gathering of stakeholders in Africa’s energy sector to discuss investment opportunities, industry development, and strategies to position the continent’s oil and gas sector as a catalyst for broader economic development.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said Africa needs to strengthen its energy sector by building local capacity and increasing African participation in the development of the continent’s natural resources.
The Vice President said the continent “needs stronger companies of its own, deeper technological capacity and a greater role in developing our resources.”
She stressed the need for Africa to play a greater role in determining its energy future, saying, “we must build up African companies and strengthen our technical institutions.”
However, she cautioned that greater participation by African companies in the sector should be accompanied by a broader strategy focused on efficiency and prudent management of the continent’s energy resources.
“Greater African participation must also be matched with an energy strategy suited to our circumstances. That means balancing renewable energy, energy efficiency and new technologies,” she said.
Professor Opoku Agyemang also called for greater cross-border cooperation, arguing that collaboration among African countries is essential to the growth of the continent’s energy sector.
“Because energy markets do not end at national borders, regional cooperation is essential. This means taking advantage of regional markets,” she said.
At the event, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, also outlined the country’s approach to achieving a balanced energy future.
He said Ghana remains committed to attracting investment into the oil and gas sector while increasing its focus on renewable energy and cleaner growth.
Mr Jinapor, however, cautioned that Africa’s energy transition should not “sideline development or deepen poverty.”