Ghana Proposes Gas-for-Power Barter Deal with Nigeria to Boost Regional Energy

Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has announced plans for a novel barter arrangement with Nigeria.

The proposal aims to enhance Ghana’s power stability and deepen regional energy cooperation in West Africa.

Speaking at the Future of Energy Conference in Accra, hosted by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Minister Jinapor outlined the plan.

Under the proposed system, Ghana would receive natural gas from Nigeria, use it to generate electricity, and then export a portion of that power back to Nigeria.

This initiative builds on existing regional partnerships. “We supply power to Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire,” Jinapor stated.

“In the spirit of that cooperation, we believe we can work together… we are in discussions with Nigeria to see if we can have a barter.”

The move represents an evolution of the long-standing relationship between the two nations, which has for over a decade involved Ghana purchasing Nigerian gas via the West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCo).

The new barter model is seen as a strategic solution that leverages both countries’ strengths: Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and Ghana’s excess power generation capacity.

Beyond this specific deal, Jinapor emphasized the critical need for broader investment in Africa’s energy future.

He revealed that African governments currently fund about 80% of energy investments on the continent but have only been able to mobilize roughly 10% of the required capital.

“African governments alone cannot resolve this challenge,” he asserted, calling for private sector investment, supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to develop regional value chains, process critical minerals locally, manufacture clean energy technologies, and build skills.

The conference, themed “Financing Africa’s Energy Future,” served as a platform for Jinapor to issue a call to action.

He stressed the imperative to develop competitive and sustainable financing mechanisms, including green bonds, carbon trading, and dedicated green funds, to unlock the investments needed for energy access and economic transformation.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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