By Kizito CUDJOE
President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Nasir Alfa Mohammed as the Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Commission (PC), the regulator overseeing the upstream oil and gas sector.
Nasir, a lawyer and policy analyst with extensive experience in energy and natural resource governance, brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.
His appointment comes at a critical time for the Petroleum Commission, which plays a key role in regulating and promoting investments in the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.
For over a decade, Nasir has held senior legal advisory positions at Ali-Nakyea & Associates and Atuguba & Associates, as well as at the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS-Africa). His work has shaped public law reform in Ghana, with a particular focus on the rule of law, energy and natural resources policy, constitutional and administrative law, and maritime governance.
Beyond legal practice, Nasir has been a strong voice in policy advocacy. As a Policy Advocacy Officer at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) from 2019 to 2021, he led efforts to strengthen Ghana’s legal and policy frameworks for resource management. Prior to that, he served as a senior policy analyst at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), where he held management and advisory roles.
His recent tenure on the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) saw him serve as Vice Chairman, representing the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
He also chaired the committee’s Technical Sub-Committee and previously led its Legal Sub-Committee.
PIAC plays a crucial oversight role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
The Petroleum Commission, established in 2011, is the state agency responsible for regulating, managing, and coordinating Ghana’s upstream oil and gas sector. It ensures compliance with industry laws, promotes local participation in the sector, and facilitates investments.
With Ghana’s oil and gas industry set for rejuvenation under the new government, Nasir’s expertise in governance and legal reforms is expected to enhance the Commission’s regulatory framework and policy direction.
Industry insiders describe the former PIAC Vice Chair as a pragmatic leader with a deep understanding of the legal and economic complexities surrounding energy resource management.
“His ability to bridge policy and law will be invaluable in strengthening Ghana’s regulatory environment,” a staff at PIAC said.
The newly appointed Ag. CEO of the Petroleum Commission holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Dundee in the UK, a Qualifying Certificate for the Practice of Law (QCL) from the Ghana School of Law, and both an LLB and a BA from the University of Ghana.
He is a member of both the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA) and has also co-authored scholarly publications on energy and natural resource governance in global journals.
As he takes on his new role, his leadership is expected to contribute to effectively shape the future of Ghana’s upstream sector.
