The Minority Caucus wishes to place on record that a series of significant hydrocarbon discoveries were made during the eight-year tenure of the Akufo-Addo–Bawumia administration, underscoring a period of remarkable progress in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
Addressing the press today, July 7, 2025, the Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North and ranking member on Parliament’s Energy Committee, Collins Adomako Mensah emphasized that between 2018 and 2022, Ghana recorded seven oil discoveries from six exploration wells, a success rate that speaks volumes about the technical and strategic direction of the previous administration. These include:
Discovery Contractor Year Estimated Reserves
Pecan Southeast Aker Energy 2018 10 million barrels
Nyankom-1X AGM Petroleum 2019 168 million barrels
Afina-1X Springfield 2019 150–300 million barrels
Akoma-1X ENI 2019 not publicly disclosed
Eban-1X ENI 2021 not publicly disclosed
Afrakuma-1X (2 finds) ENI 2022 Discoveries at Ebian & Cenomanian levels
These discoveries were not mere geological flukes—they were the result of deliberate policy reforms, investor confidence, and a robust regulatory framework that encouraged exploration.
According to the Petroleum Commission, these efforts contributed to Ghana’s cumulative production of over 753 million barrels of oil since 2010, with 2.2 billion barrels still in reserves.
It is therefore factually inaccurate for any administration to claim ownership of these discoveries if they occurred outside its tenure.
The Mahama administration must acknowledge that these milestones were achieved under the stewardship of the Akufo-Addo–Bawumia government.
Beyond the numbers, these discoveries represent:
– Economic potential: Billions in future revenue and job creation.
– Energy security: A stronger foundation for domestic energy independence.
– Investor confidence: Proof that Ghana remains a viable frontier for oil exploration.
The Minority remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s resource governance.
We urge the current administration to build upon not rewrite the legacy of progress in the hydrocarbon sector.
