The study was conducted in the laboratory with the aim to isolate, identify and assess the degradation potential of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in four Ghanaian soils sampled from different ecological zones. The bacteria were isolated using agar medium supplemented with diesel oil as the carbon source and isolates were then identified by comparing their biochemical and morphological characteristics with standards in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. To assess the degradation potential of the isolates, they were inoculated onto a sterilized filter paper contaminated with diesel oil for 72 hr and followed by seed germination test. Results showed that six hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial genera, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Yersinia, Proteus, and Alcaligenes were present in the soils used. The dominant genus associated with all the soils used in the study was Bacillus. Results also showed that percentage seed germination improved for all the test crops when inoculated with the bacterial isolates. The most effective genus involved in the improvement of seed germination was Bacillus. The study clearly indicated that Ghanaian soils contain diverse bacterial genera capable of degrading and utilizing diesel oil as carbon source.