Ghana’s Energy Chamber has withdrawn from the upcoming Africa Energies Summit in London, accusing the event’s organisers of sidelining African professionals from key roles in staffing, leadership, and programme design.
The decision, announced on April 2, 2026, was led by the Chamber’s Executive Chairman, Joshua B. Narh, after consultations with stakeholders across Ghana’s petroleum, gas, and broader energy industries. The Chamber urged Ghanaian institutions, policymakers, engineers, investors, and private sector players to reconsider attending the summit until what it called “verifiable corrective steps” are taken.
According to the Chamber, the issue goes beyond a single conference and reflects a wider pattern where events branded around Africa’s energy future often fail to include African experts in meaningful decision-making positions.
The move aligns with a growing continental stance. Similar concerns have reportedly been raised by stakeholders in Mozambique and officials linked to the African Petroleum Producers Organization, signalling broader dissatisfaction with how Africa is represented in international energy forums.
Narh said Africa can no longer support platforms that discuss the continent’s resources while limiting opportunities for the professionals developing those assets. He stressed that representation must extend beyond panel appearances to include leadership roles, staffing, and agenda-setting responsibilities.
Ghana has played a leading role in shaping Africa’s modern energy landscape, from developing governance structures after its offshore discoveries to advancing gas-to-power initiatives and regional electricity cooperation. The Chamber argued that this track record should be reflected in how African professionals are engaged at global events focused on the continent’s energy future.
The Chamber also outlined specific demands for the summit’s organisers, including the publication of workforce diversity data, transparency in recruitment processes, inclusion of Africa-based professionals in leadership roles, and formal engagement with African institutions that support workforce development.
The development comes at a time when Africa’s influence in global energy markets is expanding. With rising oil and gas output, growing renewable energy expertise, and increasing technical capacity, the continent is becoming more central to global energy conversations.
Ghana’s withdrawal sends a clear message, the Chamber said: conferences that claim to speak for Africa must reflect African leadership in practice, not just in theme.
