Accra Hosts Meeting of the West African Gas Pipeline Committee of Ministers.

Accra Hosts Meeting of the West African Gas Pipeline Committee of Ministers.

29th April 2025, Accra, Ghana — The Committee of Ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) convened in Accra for a pivotal meeting to discuss the operational status and strategic direction of the WAGP project.

The meeting brought together key policymakers and stakeholders from member countries, highlighting the region's commitment to bolstering energy cooperation and enhancing energy security across West Africa.

Hosted by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition of Ghana, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, the meeting was attended by Ministerial Delegations from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The Ministers expressed collective determination to address challenges such as gas supply reliability, pipeline security, and tariff structures that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of this critical infrastructure.

In his opening remarks, Hon. John Jinapor emphasised the essential role of the WAGP in regional economic development, stating, “Our collaboration in this project is crucial in ensuring that we meet the energy needs of our populations, drive industrial growth, and enhance regional economic integration.

We are committed to taking decisive steps towards a more secure and sustainable energy future.” Hon. Jinapor said that the collaboration was important as Ghana spends a whopping US$ 1.2 billion annually on the importation of liquid fuel, which poses a significant challenge to the country’s economy.

He urged the African Continent to judiciously explore the amount of natural gas it was blessed with to help promote its industrialization drive.

“As the world grapples with the energy trilemma, namely sustainability, affordability, and security, natural gas presents a middle ground for an equitable and just energy transition for Africa.

“What we believe is that natural gas opportunity plays a significant role in the foreseeable future,” Hon. Jinapor said.

He also commended Nigeria for its efforts in putting together and exploring projects to increase gas supply to Africa as a whole.

Hon. John Jinapor assured Ghana’s support and collaboration with Nigeria for the development of a natural gas for the two countries for the betterment of the African continent.

He again informed the meeting that the Government of Ghana would continue to improve Ghana’s energy sector and increase payments to all stakeholders along the WAGP to ensure that the country had a reliable supply of gas.

Additionally, he said the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and the cabinet had approved the construction of a second gas processing plant to enhance the energy sector of the country.

For her part, the Managing Director of the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), Mrs. Michelle Burkett, made an appeal for a coordinated effort to secure a sustainable gas supply, strengthen financial stability through collaborative solutions, and the passage of the WAGP fiscal regime.

According to her, WAPCo would be able to work effectively and efficiently when the appeal she made was met.

“We at WAPCo are ready to take up that challenge with a compelling new vision of the economic opportunities that will emerge for all stakeholders. But we need support as a company, and as expected, we look to you in this committee,” Mrs. Burkett said.

The Director General of the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), Mrs. Chafari Kanya Hannawa, said that the WAGP Project had achieved significant progress since its commencement in 2011.

Among the progress, Mrs. Hanawa said, were the creation of a regional market for the exportation of Nigeria’s gas, which helped buyer countries to make significant cost savings. She affirmed the commitment of the WAGPA in achieving its goal of regulating and facilitating the safe and efficient operation of the WAGP.

Key topics discussed included strategies to enhance pipeline integrity management, ways to attract new investments for infrastructure upgrades, and potential expansion projects. The Ministers also reviewed the progress of ongoing maintenance work aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the pipeline to ensure consistent energy delivery to member countries.

The meeting included presentations from the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) officials, the West African Pipeline Authority (WAGPA), who highlighted the significant improvements made in minimizing technical downtimes and increasing gas supply reliability in recent months.

Another focal point of the discussions was the importance of implementing environmentally friendly practices in pipeline operations. The Ministers acknowledged the imperative of addressing environmental concerns and committed to pursuing initiatives that mitigate environmental risks while fostering sustainable development.

The Committee of Ministers of the West African Gas Pipeline reiterated its dedication to fortifying regional cooperation, enhancing energy infrastructure, and ensuring the WAGP remains an exemplary model of successful regional partnerships.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of mutual commitment towards achieving the shared vision of energy accessibility and sustainability, setting a precedent for continued collaboration among the WAGP member states.