Ghana is losing an estimated US$100 million annually from gas flaring in its oil and gas sector, according to Mr. John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana.
In a recent interview, Mr. Nkaw emphasized the significant economic, environmental, and health-related consequences of the ongoing practice, which sees excess gas flared instead of processed.
“We have data showing that $100 million worth of gas is flared each year due to the inability to process excess gas.
This is a major financial loss for Ghana, and it also has serious climate change implications,” Mr. Nkaw said.
He pointed out that gas flaring contributes to harmful greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, impacting both human health and the environment.
He stressed that the practice is not only uneconomical but also counterproductive to Ghana’s climate goals.
“It’s not just a financial loss. It’s a public health and environmental crisis. Flaring is releasing pollutants that are harming communities and ecosystems,” Mr. Nkaw noted.
The concerns over gas flaring have intensified following the release of the 2024 PIAC Report, which revealed increased petroleum revenues.
Civil society organizations and energy experts are now calling for stronger actions to reduce gas flaring and better manage the country’s natural resources.
Mr. Nkaw criticized the lack of infrastructure and political will to commercialize associated gas, which could be used for domestic power generation, industrial purposes, or even exported to generate additional revenue.
“The continued flaring undermines our ability to fully benefit from our natural gas reserves.
It’s crucial that we invest in the necessary infrastructure and enforce stricter regulations to manage and monetize our gas resources effectively,” he urged.
He concluded by appealing to policymakers to prioritize long-term investments in regulatory frameworks that would help curb gas flaring, optimize the country’s energy assets, and support environmental sustainability.
