Former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Paul Apreku Twum Barimah, has called for the urgent establishment of a National Gas Act to regulate Ghana’s gas industry and address what he describes as growing institutional confusion within the sector.
In a statement, he stressed that a National Gas Act would serve as the legislative framework needed to provide clear legal direction for the effective governance and management of Ghana’s gas industry.
Mr. Twum Barimah noted that although Ghana has been producing natural gas since 2011, successive governments have failed to enact a comprehensive legal framework specifically dedicated to the gas sector, thereby creating uncertainty over regulatory authority and operational responsibilities.
He observed that the absence of a dedicated gas law has contributed to overlapping responsibilities between Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and Ghana National Gas Company.
According to him, GNPC appears to interpret its mandate broadly by assuming oversight responsibility not only for the upstream petroleum sector but also for the regulation of the country’s gas industry, while regarding Ghana Gas as a subsidiary operating under its supervision.
However, Ghana Gas, he explained, sees itself as an independent institution with a distinct mandate in the processing and management of Ghana’s gas resources. He said this difference in interpretation has contributed to institutional tensions and policy uncertainty within the sector.
“The lack of a clear legal framework for the gas industry is creating avoidable regulatory mishaps,” he stressed, adding that Ghana’s expanding gas sector cannot continue to operate without a clearly defined governance structure.
Mr. Twum Barimah argued that the passage of a National Gas Act would clearly define the mandates, responsibilities, and limitations of the institutions operating within the industry, thereby eliminating ambiguity over regulatory authority.
He further called for the drafting of a National Gas Bill to be submitted to Parliament for consideration and eventual passage into law before receiving presidential assent.
According to him, such legislation would help establish a coherent regulatory regime for Ghana’s gas industry, improve institutional coordination, attract investment, and ensure greater accountability in the management of the country’s natural gas resources.
He maintained that with Ghana increasingly relying on natural gas for power generation and industrial development, the country can no longer afford policy and regulatory uncertainty in such a strategic sector.