Sahara Group Unveils LPG Vessel to Boost Ghana's Supply

Ghana's Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, unveiled MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000-cubic-metre liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessel owned by Sahara Group, at the Tema Oil Jetty on Tuesday, as the country works toward a target of 50% LPG penetration by 2030.

Built by Hyundai over 18 months, the vessel arrived in Ghana carrying 5,000 metric tonnes of LPG.

Jinapor said the vessel's arrival marks a significant step toward expanding access to cleaner cooking fuel for Ghanaians, and reaffirmed government commitment to promoting LPG use nationwide because of environmental concerns, including desertification.

Ghana's cooking fuel shift has stalled below target

That target carries real weight against Ghana's current cooking fuel habits.

More than 60% of households across 11 of Ghana's 16 administrative regions still use firewood or charcoal as their primary cooking fuel, and nationally, about 54% of households cook with biomass, according to Ghana Statistical Service data, a reliance that has been linked to deforestation, since charcoal production is a significant driver of tree loss, particularly in the country's savannah zone.

Researchers have described a pattern of "fuel stacking," in which households alternate between LPG and charcoal depending on which is affordable or available at a given time, meaning that price spikes in LPG can push families back toward wood and charcoal even after they have adopted gas.

Rural areas lag furthest behind: while a majority of urban households now use LPG for cooking, uptake in rural Ghana has historically remained in the single digits, and LPG price increases have previously prompted warnings from environmentalists that higher costs risk accelerating forest loss as households revert to cheaper wood fuels.

Jinapor described Sahara Group as a credible partner to Ghana, recalling that when power generation from the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam declined and the West African Gas Pipeline experienced disruptions in past years, the company supplied fuel to Ghana without requiring the country to raise Letters of Credit, a payment guarantee instrument normally required in international fuel trade.

He commended the company for its reliability as a partner over the years.

Sahara frames the vessel as a broader investment bet

Sahara Group Executive Director Wale Ajibade said the vessel's maiden voyage reflects the company's commitment to expanding access to cleaner energy.

"This maiden voyage to Ghanaian shores signals a resounding welcome to greater access to cleaner energy, healthier homes and communities, thriving businesses and a more sustainable environment," he said, adding that the vessel reinforces Sahara's broader investment strategy spanning shipping, storage and downstream distribution.

"At Sahara, we see MT Asharami Ghana as a symbol of confidence in Ghana's future.

It reflects our unwavering belief in Ghana's immense potential and our determination to work alongside stakeholders to deliver sustainable energy solutions that improve lives, create opportunities and drive inclusive growth," Ajibade said.

Asharami Ghana Managing Director Yaa Serwaa Alifo described the vessel's arrival as a transformative moment.

"What we are celebrating here is the culmination of a vision and a bold statement of our commitment to Ghana's energy future," she said, adding that the vessel would improve access to cleaner fuel while strengthening the reliability of LPG supplies to businesses and households.