Ghana Gas: Overstaffing, Debt And The Road Ahead
Ghana Gas has sounded the alarm over rising operational costs driven primarily by overstaffing, with company leadership warning that the burden is now threatening the sustainability of operations.
Speaking at a media engagement in June 2025, Ghana Gas’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Judith Adjobah Blay, described the situation as unsustainable, indicating that payroll pressures were putting a strain on core operational budgets. "The issue is that we are not expanding our operations but rather expanding our human resource capacity. That is where the problem is," she said. According to the company, its staff strength currently stands at over 1,200 - well above the lean workforce required for its scale of operations.
The challenge is further compounded by Ghana Gas’s growing financial exposure. According to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), the company is owed substantial amounts by the Volta River Authority (VRA), with the debt standing at GH₵1.4 billion as of February 2025. This mounting receivable, largely resulting from power sector payment delays, is weakening Ghana Gas’s balance sheet and straining its ability to meet supplier and maintenance obligations.
Despite these financial headwinds, Ghana Gas continues to pursue institutional reforms and broader stakeholder engagement. It is reinforcing its institutional collaboration with the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). A recent visit from PIAC’s Chair, Constantine Kudzedzi, emphasized the two institutions’ shared commitment to transparency and sustainable energy governance.
Adding to this evolving landscape is the recent reconstitution of the company’s board of directors. In late On0 May 1, 2025, a new nine-member board was appointed: Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi (Chairman), Ms. Judith Adjobah Blay (Acting CEO), Mr. Emmanuel Vincent, Ms. Nasira Afrah Gyekye (MP), Ms. Charlotte Osei, Mr. Samuel Kwame Borlu, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, Mr. Baba Abdul Jamal Adama, and Mr. Blay Nyameke Armah (MP). The new board has just begun its work, with observers expecting a renewed focus on corporate governance, cost containment, and sector positioning.
As energy demand grows and public scrutiny sharpens, Ghana Gas faces a critical window of opportunity to reform, consolidate, and deliver. But the company’s long-term viability will hinge not only on operational discipline, but also on the ability of its ecosystem partners - including offtakers and regulators - to align in the national interest.
