Ghana to drill first Voltain Basin exploration well between Q4-Q1 2027 – Petroleum Commission CEO
Ghana is set to drill its first exploration well in the Voltaian Basin between the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Ms Emeafa Hardcastle, has disclosed.
The Voltaian Basin is a vast onshore sedimentary basin covering approximately 104,000 square kilometres, representing about 40 per cent of the country’s total landmass.
Spanning eight administrative regions across central and northern Ghana, the basin is currently the focus of major national efforts to establish a commercial onshore oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Global Energy Show in Canada over the weekend, Ms Hardcastle said preliminary assessments of the basin had revealed encouraging petroleum potential and evidence of an active petroleum system, boosting confidence in the basins commercial prospects.
“Plans are underway to drill the first exploration well in the Voltaian Basin between the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027 to further de-risk the area and attract investor interest,” she stated.
According to the CEO, recent volatility in global energy markets had underscored the importance of energy security, supply reliability and diversification, compelling investors to look beyond traditional hydrocarbon destinations.
“Ghana offers significant hydrocarbon potential across mature, frontier, onshore and offshore basins. We are taking practical steps to improve competitiveness and create an enabling environment for responsible investment,” she said.
Highlighting the long-standing relationship between Ghana and Canada, which she said had yielded mutual benefits for both countries, Ms Hardcastle expressed the government’s commitment to deepening the partnership by attracting Canadian expertise in advanced oilfield technologies, gas development and infrastructure expansion.
She said Ghana was ready to deploy technologies that would improve hydrocarbon recovery, increase operational efficiency, strengthen field monitoring, and enhance environmental and safety performance.
Ms Hardcastle indicated that with three producing offshore fields already operating in the Western Basin, the government remained determined to reduce geological risks in the petroleum sector to minimise uncertainty for investors.
“Ghana is open for business. We warmly invite you to come on board and choose Ghana as your preferred destination for environmentally sustainable hydrocarbon investment,” she said.
On the theme: ‘Capitalising on Canada’s Energy Leadership,’ this year’s energy show brought together policymakers, investors, energy executives, technology providers and innovators from across the world to discuss emerging industry trends, technological advancements and partnerships shaping the future of the global energy industry.
As part of the event, Ghana held strategic meetings with prospective investors seeking opportunities in the country’s upstream petroleum industry, particularly in the onshore Voltaian Basin.
It also mounted exhibition booths to engage participants on Ghana’s onshore and offshore basins and the investment opportunities they offer.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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