Ghana Risks Fuel Supply Disruptions amid Middle East Tensions — CUTS International Warns
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
The West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, has cautioned that Ghana could face potential fuel supply disruptions beyond the current stock levels assured by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Citing rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their impact on global crude oil prices, Mr. Adomako said, Ghana’s fuel security remains vulnerable due to limited storage capacity and heavy reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
Speaking in a sideline media interview after a strategic management engagement between the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation and civil society organizations, Mr. Adomako stressed the need for Ghana to accelerate the implementation of the proposed Petroleum Hub project.
He explained that the project could play a crucial role in protecting the country against supply shocks caused by global conflicts or market instability.
“You look at what is happening in the Middle East, the price of crude oil has gone up, and if we do not take care, we may even suffer fuel shortages beyond the five weeks’ storage that we currently have,” he warned.
Mr. Adomako noted that the establishment of a fully functional petroleum hub would significantly strengthen Ghana’s capacity to store, refine, and distribute petroleum products locally.
“If Ghana were to invest and have this petroleum hub functioning at its full capacity, I am sure we could have other countries like Nigeria, Angola, and even Côte d’Ivoire coming to refine their petroleum products here,” he said.
According to him, such a development would not only improve Ghana’s energy security but also transform the country into a major petroleum refining and distribution center in the West African sub-region.
He added that the project would generate employment opportunities across the petroleum value chain while boosting economic growth.
“That will also help Ghana create jobs around the petroleum value chain and, in the long run, expand capacity and develop the economy because of this hub,” he emphasized.
The proposed Petroleum Hub project forms part of Ghana’s long-term strategy to position itself as a leading energy and logistics center in West Africa while strengthening the country’s resilience against global fuel supply disruptions.
