Ghana's efforts to strengthen its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply have received a boost with the arrival of the MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000-cubic-metre LPG carrier. The vessel delivered about 5,000 tonnes of LPG to the country on its maiden voyage. The arrival was marked by a ceremony at the Tema Oil Jetty, attended by key players in the country's energy sector, including the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor.
The event was part of Sahara Group's broader investment in LPG shipping, storage, and distribution infrastructure aimed at improving supply reliability and supporting Ghana's transition towards cleaner cooking fuels. The government's target is to increase the population's access to LPG to 50 per cent by 2030. To achieve this, investments in infrastructure required to import, receive, store, and distribute LPG are crucial. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) reported that imported LPG accounted for about 70 per cent of monthly consumption in 2024.
The addition of dedicated LPG shipping capacity gives Ghana another asset within the physical supply chain to bring the product into the country and distribute it to households and businesses. The government has positioned LPG as part of its clean-cooking and energy-transition agenda, with greater adoption expected to reduce dependence on traditional fuels and improve household energy choices. Dr Jinapor emphasized the importance of collaboration with private-sector investors in strengthening energy security and supporting sustainable development.
Dr Jinapor commended Sahara Group for its commitment to supporting Ghana's aspirations for energy security, economic growth, and sustainable development. He stressed that investments in infrastructure, such as the MT Asharami Ghana, were necessary to support the government's energy-transition objectives. The Minister of Energy and Green Transition highlighted the role of private-sector investors in achieving the country's energy goals.
Wale Ajibade, an Executive Director of Sahara Group, said the maiden voyage demonstrated the company's commitment to expanding access to cleaner energy and strengthening Ghana's energy security. He acknowledged the role of the NPA and its CEO in supporting the process that led to the vessel's arrival. Ajibade stated that the vessel's maiden shipment was only the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen LPG availability in Ghana.
Yaa Serwaa Alifo, Managing Director of Asharami Ghana, said the arrival of the vessel represented the culmination of a long-term investment vision and would help improve access to LPG for households and businesses. Alifo emphasized that the event marked a bold statement of Sahara Group's commitment to Ghana's energy future. The MT Asharami Ghana vessel's arrival is expected to have a positive impact on Ghana's energy sector.
The arrival of the MT Asharami Ghana vessel is a significant step towards expanding access to cleaner energy solutions in Ghana. The government's efforts to promote cleaner cooking and reduce reliance on traditional cooking fuels, such as charcoal and firewood, are expected to benefit from the increased LPG supply. The MT Asharami Ghana vessel's maiden voyage marks a new development in Ghana's energy sector.
Key points
- The MT Asharami Ghana vessel delivered about 5,000 tonnes of LPG to Ghana on its maiden voyage.
- The government aims to increase the population's access to LPG to 50 per cent by 2030.
- The MT Asharami Ghana vessel's arrival is expected to improve access to LPG for households and businesses in Ghana.
