Accra: Dr Kofi Amoa-Abban, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rigworld Solutions, a leading provider of upstream oil and gas services in Africa, has called for effective leadership in Ghana’s energy sector. Dr Amoa-Abban expressed optimism that effective leadership could address the inefficiencies and mismanagement in the sector, citing excessive partisan politics and poor leadership as the bane.

According to Ghana News Agency, the country’s estimated US$3 billion energy sector debt is a major contributor to the country’s debt unsustainability. ‘The issue in Ghana with energy crisis is politics and bad leadership. We have enough gas offshore, but the leadership is very poor. If we put people who understand the sector at the helm of affairs, they can be creative to bring changes,’ he said.

He said this in a media engagement on the sidelines of the 2025 practitioners’ forum, organised by the School of Graduate Studies, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). The weekend event was on the theme: ‘Dynamic Strategies for Global Industry Leadership.’

He cited the issue of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), where over 1,357 containers filled with cables and other essential equipment at the Tema Port, belonging to the power distributor, allegedly went missing as a typical example of leadership failure in the sector. Such phenomena, he said, could be addressed if the sector was devoid of overpoliticisation and effective leadership.

Regarding energy transition, the Oil and Gas entrepreneur noted the importance of adopting green energy for climate control but cautioned Ghana and other African countries against rushing to abandon fossil fuel. ‘The West have depleted most of their fossil fuel and are now going green,’ he said, adding that African countries, including Ghana, had just commenced fossil fuel and oil and gas exploration.

‘If Ghana for instance will go green, it will take up to 2040 or 2050. So, for sustainable growth of companies, we must think about going green when it gets there, but for now, Africa will have to develop more hydrocarbons.’ Dr Amoa-Abban expressed confidence in such approach catalysing the continent into achieving sustainable growth and development and ensure a brighter future for countries and their citizens.