Ghana's President Mahama launches onshore drilling and refinery expansion

President John Dramani Mahama announced that EXPLORCO, the exploration arm of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, will commence onshore oil drilling in the Voltarian Basin before the end of 2026. The move is presented as a step to broaden Ghana’s petroleum activities beyond offshore fields and to foster local skills development, technology transfer and participation by Ghanaian companies.

At the same ceremony, Mahama cut the sod for Phase II of the Sentuo Oil Refinery expansion. The project will raise the refinery’s capacity from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day, aiming to increase energy security, create thousands of jobs and support the country’s shift from exporting raw materials to processing and adding value domestically. Both initiatives are part of a broader strategy to build a competitive, resilient energy sector in Ghana.