GNPC and Petrobras Commence Strategic Technical Engagement to Enhance Upstream Cooperation
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has embarked on a high-level, weeklong technical engagement with a delegation from Brazil’s national oil company, Petrobras. Spanning January 19 – 23, 2026, the visit represents a pivotal step toward deepening bilateral cooperation and fostering technical synergy between the two entities.
The engagement commenced at GNPC’s Research & Technology Centre (RTC) in Accra, where the Brazilian delegation was formally received by GNPC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kwame Ntow Amoah, and members of the corporation’s senior management and technical leadership.
Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Ntow Amoah characterized the engagement as a timely revitalization of a relationship that dates back to GNPC’s formative years.
“This visit builds on a relationship that spans several decades,” Mr. Amoah stated. “From the early years of GNPC’s establishment, Petrobras supported our institutional development and capacity-building efforts. Today’s engagement reflects our commitment to practical collaboration, based on a clear understanding of our shared priorities.”
The Ag. CEO highlighted Petrobras’ historical role in GNPC’s 1983 establishment, particularly in strategic organizational planning. This modern phase of cooperation is bolstered by a recently signed Confidentiality Agreement, providing a robust legal and formal framework for deep technical data sharing and collaborative research.
At the heart of the weeklong engagement is a strategic effort to align Petrobras’ world-class technical expertise with Ghana’s evolving upstream objectives. Michael Aryeetey, GNPC’s Deputy Chief Executive (Technical), set the stage by providing the delegation with a comprehensive overview of the national petroleum landscape, detailing the Corporation’s roadmap for sustainable growth.
He emphasized that a primary focus is the implementation of strategic measures designed to reverse current production declines by optimizing output from both existing assets and marginal fields. Beyond immediate production, Mr. Aryeetey highlighted GNPC’s commitment to strengthening its internal operatorship, a move intended to enhance the Corporation’s capacity to lead complex exploration and production projects. This vision extends to Ghana’s frontier exploration, particularly within the Voltaian Basin. In this area, Petrobras’ proven track record in navigating complex geological terrains is expected to offer transformative value, providing the technical depth needed to unlock the basin's potential.
Representing the seven-member Petrobras delegation, Rafael Pinto de Freitas, Upstream JV Development Engineer, described the visit as an "exploratory and learning-focused" mission.
“This visit is driven by a genuine interest to better understand GNPC’s strategy and to explore where there may be opportunities for both companies to work together in a way that creates shared value,” de Freitas remarked. He noted that the sessions aim to assess the technical and commercial positions of both entities to build a foundation for long-term collaboration.
Throughout the week, the Petrobras team will participate in intensive data room sessions, technical reviews, and interactive workshops at the GNPC Research & Technology Centre.
This engagement aligns with GNPC’s broader strategic mandate to partner with global National Oil Companies (NOCs) to accelerate knowledge transfer, build internal technical capacity, and ensure long-term value creation for the Ghanaian petroleum sector.