President Mahama highlights Africa’s energy paradox at Africa Oil Week 2025, urging continental collaboration to address widespread energy poverty
Ghana’s President H.E. John Dramani Mahama delivered a stark reminder of Africa’s energy crisis during the opening ceremony of Africa Oil Week 2025 in Accra on 16th September 2025, revealing that despite the continent’s vast oil and gas reserves, over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
“Africa holds nearly 10% of the world’s proven oil reserves and significant natural gas deposits with a substantial portion of these resources remaining untapped,” President Mahama told delegates at the premier energy gathering. “And yet, paradoxically, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. Another 1 billion have no access to clean cooking systems.”
The Ghanaian leader described this disparity as a critical gap that must be urgently addressed to meet continental and global development goals. “This is a gap we must urgently close if we are to achieve the African Union agenda, 2063 and the UN SDGs before 2030,” he emphasized.
President Mahama painted a picture of untapped potential, noting that Africa’s oil and gas reserves present “an opportunity to transform our continent from a primary exporter of raw commodities into a hub for energy driven value addition, boosting our petrochemical potential and our industrial growth.”
The President stressed the strategic importance of these resources, stating: “This makes Africa’s oil and gas reserves strategically pivotal, not just for global energy security, but also to address Africa’s energy poverty. A continent with the world’s youngest population, cannot build its industries or create jobs without reliable and affordable energy.”
Addressing concerns about reduced international investment in African oil and gas projects, President Mahama called for increased African collaboration and self-reliance. “Africa must not be left behind in the energy transition. If international oil companies reduce their presence, we must prevent our resources from becoming stranded assets. This requires African collaboration, financing and innovation.”
He highlighted existing continental institutions as key to addressing the energy crisis: “We already have the tools, the African Petroleum Producers organization, the African continental free trade area and the emerging African energy bank. These institutions can mobilize African capital, technology and markets. They can drive aggressive exploration, refining, petrochemical, storage and transport infrastructure.”
The President emphasized that hosting Africa Oil Week 2025 represents Ghana’s commitment to continental energy development. “Africa must take ownership of its resources and its destiny,” he declared, outlining his country’s vision to become a regional petroleum hub while simultaneously pursuing renewable energy development.
Under the theme “Creating our future through the United power of human intelligence,” this year’s Africa Oil Week brings together energy leaders, government officials, and investors to address Africa’s energy challenges and opportunities.
