Report by Ben LARYEA
The Petroleum Commission have urged industry players in the upstream sector to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the upstream sector.
According to the Commission, the gesture will help promote the participation of indigenous Ghanaian companies in the provision of goods and services in the industry.
“Petroleum Commission have therefore taken a strategic decision to promote the development of indigenous capabilities and the use of local capacities by creating an enabling environment for Ghanaian companies to succeed in the sector”, the Commission said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Commission, Mr. Egbert Faibille Jnr. made the call at the launch of the 2023 local content conference and exhibition in Accra under the theme “10 years of Local Content in Ghana’s Upstream and Petroleum Industry – Achievements, Challenges and Prospects.”
The programme created a platform for industry players the opportunity to discuss and share ideas by stakeholders on the important role of local content and to push further the Job Role Localisation (JRL) of the Commission.
In addition, it gave the Commission the opportunity to share information about the petroleum industry as well as prepare indigenous Ghanaian companies to strategically align themselves to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the sector.
“Government policy of providing a level playing field for all investors”, he said adding that Ghana’s local content regulations are a vehicle for partnering investors to develop local capacities to bring mutual benefits to investors.
The Chief Executive Officer challenged industry players to work ceaselessly and ensure that the future remains sustainable for local content development and growth in the upstream sector.
For his part, the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh urged the Petroleum Commission to train Ghanaian workers in the sector to take up positions reserved for expatriates adding that Ghanaians must have deep stake in the sector.
According to him, huge emoluments are spent on expatriates therefore Ghanaians must be well resourced to be at a competitive advantage over their foreign counterparts.
He however commended the Commission in the effective implementation of the local content regulations which have run for the past eight years with success and thanked the corporate bodies for their continuous support.
The Director for Local Content at the Petroleum Commission, Mr. Kwaku Boateng said the conference will focus on the factors driving Ghana’s local content achievements which is scheduled on 21st to 24th November, 2023 at Takoradi in the Western Region and thanked stakeholders for their hard work in bringing the oil and gas industry to a new level of growth and development.
