GNPC CEO Hands Over Chairmanship of APPO NOCs CEOs Forum, Calls for Stronger African Energy Cooperation
Cape Town, South Africa - The Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah, has handed over the chairmanship of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) National Oil Companies (NOCs) CEOs Forum to Mr. Godfrey Moagi, Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), at the Forum’s 8th meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
The handover marks the end of Mr Amoah’s tenure as Chairman, during which he championed stronger cooperation among African national oil companies to address shared challenges in energy financing, technical capacity development, investment, and the continent’s energy transition.
Addressing his fellow Chief Executives, Mr. Amoah reflected on the 7th Forum hosted by GNPC in Accra in September 2025, where he urged African NOCs to work more closely together and leverage their collective expertise and resources to advance the development of Africa’s petroleum industry.
He noted that while African national oil companies operate under different circumstances, their shared interests create considerable opportunities for collaboration, particularly in mobilising investment, strengthening indigenous capabilities, and developing the infrastructure needed to support the continent’s energy needs.
The Chief Executive acknowledged progress across APPO over the past year, including efforts to operationalise the Africa Energy Bank, being developed in partnership with Afreximbank, to improve access to financing for viable African oil, gas, and energy infrastructure projects.
He also highlighted initiatives to deepen African participation in the petroleum value chain, including establishing a pan-African local content platform and strengthening cooperation in research, technology, and technical capacity development.
While recognising these developments, Mr. Amoah emphasised the need for African NOCs to move beyond agreements and policy discussions to practical implementation, with greater attention to commercially viable projects, institutional partnerships, and measurable outcomes.
“A headquarters handover is not yet a functioning bank. A new platform is not yet a pipeline of contracts. An agreement is not yet an operating project. We should celebrate progress while remaining disciplined about implementation and measurable results,” he said.
He encouraged the Forum to prioritise bankable investment opportunities, company-to-company cooperation in infrastructure and technical development, and mechanisms for tracking progress on agreed initiatives.
On Africa’s energy transition, the Chief Executive reiterated the importance of balancing environmental responsibilities with the continent’s development priorities, particularly the need for reliable and affordable energy to support industrialisation, employment, and economic growth.
He maintained that African NOCs must strengthen their commercial and operational capabilities while ensuring petroleum resource development delivers greater value to their respective economies.
Mr Amoah further reaffirmed his position from the Accra meeting: African institutions, expertise, and investment must shape Africa's energy future, supported by stronger cooperation among national oil companies.
“Africa’s energy future must be led by African voices, African institutions, and strong African resolve,” he reiterated.
The 8th Forum also provided an opportunity to reinforce GNPC’s relationships with fellow African NOCs, including SANPC and Algeria’s SONATRACH, with which the Corporation has pursued cooperation in technical knowledge exchange, institutional capacity development, and other areas of mutual interest.
Congratulating Mr. Moagi on assuming the chairmanship, Mr. Amoah expressed confidence in his leadership and reaffirmed GNPC’s commitment to supporting the Forum’s work.
He thanked the APPO Secretariat, the SANPC leadership, and his fellow Chief Executives for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure and expressed optimism that the Forum would continue strengthening partnerships that advance Africa’s petroleum industry.
The APPO NOCs CEOs Forum provides a platform for national oil company leaders across the continent to exchange experiences, identify opportunities for collaboration, and advance common priorities in petroleum development, energy security, and institutional capacity building.