Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged Ghanaians to develop an interest in learning at least one additional language beyond their mother tongue.

She made the call at the launch of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre in Accra.

“These achievements remind us that our cultural expressions are not only the treasures of Ghana, but that they are gifts to the world. Furthermore, this policy recognises that in an interconnected world, cultural intelligence and languages are critical tools for development. And I want to propose that each of us tries to learn one language away from our mother tongue. Just one,” she said.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang noted that language acquisition and cultural intelligence are increasingly important in a globally connected world and should be embraced as tools for national development.

She also highlighted the role of technology, including artificial intelligence, in promoting Ghanaian culture and languages.

“As we look to the future, we recognise that the transformative role of technology including Artificial Intelligence can be used to digitise our culture, promote our languages and amplify the reach of our artistes. However, as we ensure that, we must also use it in ways that are innovative, and are rooted in our value for the benefit of our people, especially in areas of job creation,” she added.

The Vice President further called on stakeholders within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) to work together to achieve the objectives of the revised policy.

“Let this launch mark the start of a bold chapter in Ghana’s cultural journey. Let us come together, government, traditional authorities, the youth and the diaspora, of course, to unlock the full potential of culture and creativity. We must build a nation that draws strength from its heritage, create opportunities through innovation, and projects its voice with confidence and influence on the world stage,” she said.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, said the policy is the result of years of extensive stakeholder consultations and is expected to support creative entrepreneurs, cultural investment and the integration of culture into national development planning.

The Cultural Policy of Ghana is described as a strategic roadmap for preserving the nation’s heritage while strengthening the cultural and creative industries to drive economic growth, job creation and social transformation.

This new policy replaces the previous version published in 2004. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, positioning culture as a key pillar of national development.

Work on the revised Cultural Policy of Ghana began seven years ago and involved extensive consultations with stakeholders across the sector.

The launch reaffirms Ghana’s commitment to leveraging culture for sustainable development, heritage preservation, economic empowerment and global cultural engagement.

The policy covers areas including culture and heritage, culture and society, culture and governance, culture across the economy, culture and technology, as well as national oversight, implementation and regulation.

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The petroleum downstream sector in Ghana is undergoing one of the most dynamic transformations in its recent history, characterised by increased competition, fast market expansion, and the emergence of strong indigenous Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

In this dynamic environment, GOIL PLC is firmly on the front foot with increased commercial momentum, improved operational performance and a clear strategic focus on sustainable growth.

As the leading indigenous OMC in Ghana and the firm with the largest retail network in the country, GOIL has played a crucial role in maintaining fuel accessibility across the country. Between 2020 and 2022, the Company recorded strong growth, reaching over 1.06 billion litres in annual sales and achieving a peak market share of 22.72% in October 2022. But the downstream industry kept moving ahead at a rapid pace with the aggressive expansion of new indigenous businesses, which intensified rivalry and altered market dynamics.

Like many players in the industry, GOIL faced intense market pressures between 2022 and 2025 due to shifting consumer patterns, aggressive pricing initiatives, and heightened market fragmentation. During this period, strong indigenous competitors gained ground while established multinational players also shifted to a more competitive operating environment. Despite these adjustments, GOIL remained focused on strengthening its operational basis, boosting product competitiveness, revitalising its retail network and enhancing consumer value propositions nationwide.

Recent performance metrics indicate that such deliberate efforts are producing favourable results. According to the Company’s internal performance reviews by its Research and Business Intelligence Department (ReBID), GOIL recorded the highest year to date growth among the major OMCs in Ghana between January and April 2026. Sales volumes increased by about 45.9% relative to the corresponding period in 2025. Total volumes for the first four months of 2026 were about 365.6 million litres, indicating a renewed momentum across the business.

Notably, GOIL reclaimed market leadership in February 2026, and market share rose to 13.6% in March 2026, the highest level since the first quarter of 2023. The most evident signal of this resurgence came in April 2026, when provisional industry data showed GOIL recording approximately 108.86 million litres in sales, the highest monthly volume achieved by the Company within the six-year review period. This exceeded the previous monthly high of 100.5 million litres recorded in April 2022 and represented a remarkable year-on-year growth of 76.7% over April 2025.

This performance is attributable to improved commercial discipline, enhanced supply stability, stronger customer-focused execution, and renewed operational efficiency across its nationwide network. Under the renewed vision and strategic direction of current leadership, the Company has sharpened its focus on execution, strengthened internal coordination, and pursued deliberate interventions aimed at restoring competitiveness and delivering greater value to customers.

The downstream market, however, remains intensely competitive. Indigenous players are actively expanding, suggesting a deeper structural shift in Ghana’s petroleum sector. While this changing landscape brings new challenges, it also reinforces GOIL’s long-standing strategic strengths: a trusted national brand, extensive infrastructure, nationwide accessibility, strong supply capabilities and a deep commitment to serving customers across both high- and low-volume markets.

 For GOIL, the current result is not just a short-term bounce but a conscious repositioning of the business in an increasingly competitive market. Continued agility, operational discipline and customer-centric innovation will be critical to sustained leadership. The Company remains strongly focused on cementing its gains and strengthening its position as a trusted partner in Ghana’s energy future.

Beyond operational gains, GOIL’s recent resurgence is also strongly reflected in its performance on the Ghana Stock Exchange. The Company emerged as one of the market’s standout equities in 2025, with its share price rising from GH¢1.52 at the beginning of the year to GH¢2.96 by 31 December 2025, representing an impressive 95% growth in shareholder value. The momentum strengthened further in 2026, with the stock reaching a year high of GH¢8.01 on the Ghana Stock Exchange by May 2026, up from GH¢2.96 at the start of the year. This exceptional rise reinforces growing investor confidence in GOIL’s strategic direction, improving operational and commercial performance, and the impact of deliberate reforms under the Company’s leadership. Taken together, the sustained upward trend on the exchange positions GOIL as one of the notable corporate success stories on the GSE, demonstrating resilience, renewed competitiveness and strong market confidence.

As GOIL continues the transformation journey, one objective remains clear: delivering quality products, affordable value, and reliable nationwide service while advancing its mission of powering lives and businesses with Good Energy.

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