Energy analysts have called for a balanced approach to Ghana’s energy transition, saying green fuels and other renewable energy sources should complement rather than immediately replace fossil fuels.
Speaking on Business Focus on August 31, 2026, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr. Riverson Oppong, described the shift to cleaner energy as “energy addition” rather than energy transition.
According to him, Ghana should welcome different sources of energy as the country works to meet its growing energy needs.
“You’re going to experience something that is not called energy transition but energy addition. We welcome all sorts of energy,” he said.
Dr. Oppong noted that Ghana recorded a significant increase in electric vehicle (EV) adoption last year, including hybrids and electric cars, while fuel consumption also recorded its highest increase.
He said the simultaneous growth in EVs and conventional fuel consumption demonstrates that fossil fuels continue to have a strong role in Ghana’s energy mix despite the growing adoption of cleaner alternatives.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Scrutiny, Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie, shared a similar view, arguing that Ghana should pursue a combination of energy sources rather than make a drastic shift away from crude oil.
He said the country continues to discover and produce crude oil and should maximise the economic benefits of its petroleum resources while investing in alternative sources such as solar and wind.
“We have to have the mix and exhaust our crude in the production because Ghana too will benefit from the crude production,” Dr. Sarkodie said.
He also pointed to the growing number of Chinese electric vehicles entering the Ghanaian market, saying consumers could gradually move from conventional vehicles to electric alternatives.
However, he stressed that such a transition should be gradual.
Dr. Sarkodie further explained that demand for crude oil-based fuels remains largely price inelastic, meaning consumers may continue to use the products even when prices increase.
He attributed this to the limited availability of close substitutes for conventional fuels.
He therefore maintained that Ghana would need to sustain the use of fossil fuels alongside renewable energy until alternative energy sources become sufficiently available and accessible.
The comments come as Ghana continues to explore cleaner energy options while seeking to maintain energy security and maximise the economic benefits of its petroleum resources.
Green fuel is an eco-friendly source of energy produced from renewable materials that releases far fewer carbon emissions while Fossil fuels are natural energy sources formed deep within the Earth from the buried remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years.
By Coffie Mawuedem Noel
