President John Dramani Mahama, represented by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah at the opening of Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2026 in Accra, advocated for a pragmatic energy strategy tailored to Africa's unique development needs. Debrah stressed that expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity requires a combination of conventional energy sources, like oil and gas, and renewables to support industrialization and improve living standards. This call comes as African governments face pressure to develop hydrocarbons while accelerating cleaner energy investments, given that large portions of the continent still lack reliable electricity and clean cooking access.