Ghana must move away from what energy expert Ing. Justice Ohene-Akoto describes as a “reactionary” approach to fuel pricing and adopt long-term reforms to reduce the country’s exposure to fluctuations in global oil prices.

Ing. Ohene-Akoto, Executive Director of the Africa Sustainable Energy Centre, said the government’s GH¢2 reduction in diesel prices was a welcome relief for consumers but would not address the underlying vulnerabilities in Ghana’s energy system.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, he said the country needed a more sustainable approach to petroleum pricing, including the removal of what he described as unnecessary levies and a review of the pricing floor.

He said the government should consider permanently removing the GH¢1 fuel levy that industry stakeholders have repeatedly criticised.

“We need a sustainable approach rather than being reactionary,” he said.

Ing. Ohene-Akoto also called on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to make the petroleum pricing floor more flexible.

He argued that oil marketing companies should be allowed to sell below the current floor price if they can maintain the required quality standards.

According to him, greater flexibility could allow market forces to deliver lower prices without requiring the government to intervene whenever international crude oil prices rise.

He stressed that any relaxation of the floor price should be accompanied by stronger standardisation and quality monitoring to prevent consumers from receiving inferior products.

The energy expert said Ghana’s status as an oil-producing country should allow it to develop greater energy sovereignty rather than remain heavily exposed to international oil price shocks.

He called for reforms across the petroleum value chain, from crude oil production and royalties to refining and consumption.

While welcoming the expansion of the country’s refinery capacity, he said Ghana needed to ensure that its domestic oil resources translated into greater energy security.

“We shouldn’t get to the point where we depend on global oil prices,” he said. “Otherwise, we are not energy sovereigns.”

Ing. Ohene-Akoto also called for a diversification of Ghana’s transport and energy mix to reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum products.

He said about 90% of Ghana’s transportation system relies on fossil fuels, leaving consumers particularly vulnerable whenever global oil prices rise.

He urged the government to introduce policies and incentives to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, biofuels, and renewable energy.

According to him, developing alternative energy sources would provide a buffer against international oil market shocks.

He further called for greater investment in bulk oil storage capacity, saying increased storage would improve Ghana’s ability to withstand periods of international market volatility.

He identified four areas requiring immediate and medium-term attention: removing the GH¢1 fuel levy, revising the NPA’s pricing floor, increasing petroleum storage capacity, and expanding domestic refining.

He said these measures would provide a more sustainable response to global oil price volatility than repeatedly introducing temporary price interventions.

Ing. Ohene-Akoto also supported calls for the government to extend price relief beyond diesel to petrol and LPG.

He said the benefits of any intervention should cut across petroleum products rather than focus on only one category.

While describing the GH¢2 diesel reduction as a welcome relief for consumers, he urged the government to refine its approach and develop a long-term strategy for energy security.