Harlequin Oil and Gas adjudged Local Content Achievement Company of the Year 2020

Harlequin Oil and Gas (HOG), a leading, fully Ghanaian owned Fabrication, Hydraulics and General Engineering Services Company has been adjudged “Local Content Achievement Company of the Year 2020” by The Oil and Gas Year (TOGY), the most prestigious oil & gas journal with global footprints.

The award recognised the importance of the recent acquisition of the Harlequin Group by a group of local entrepreneurs in 2018. The acquisition made the Harlequin Group, an already prominent player in the upstream service sector, eligible for certification by the Petroleum Commission (PC) as a fully indigenous Ghanaian company in 2019.

Mr. Kofi Oduro Mensah, Co-CEO for Joint Venture (JV) and Strategic Alliances, Harlequin Oil and Gas Limited, said “We are highly appreciative that a global industry journal has recognized what we are doing at Harlequin to further develop Ghana’s fledgeling upstream oil & gas space.

We dedicate this award and associated recognition to each and every one of our hardworking employees who relentlessly pursue the highest level of perfection in our day-to-day operations,” He said.

In an interview that was published in the special “Ghana 2020” edition of TOGY, Mr. Mensah noted the general drive towards indigenization within the Ghanaian oil and gas sector.

He commended the Petroleum Commission for creating an environment in which indigenous businesses are able to gain a stronger foothold in the industry and encouraged local businesses to continuously develop local expertise.

Mr. Mensah recalled the introduction of the local content law, LI 2204, in 2013 during which services such as catering and general manpower supply chain were reserved for fully indigenous companies and said this trend is now evolving with local companies beginning to offer technical services to International Oil Companies and international service Companies alike.

Mr. Mensah also hopes to see the minimum participation percentage requirements for local participation in Joint Ventures increased to 20% in the amendment to the Local Content Regulation LI 2204 slated to be introduced this year. “With a higher equity stake, indigenous companies could ensure that these JVs are adding value to the country, as opposed to only existing as JVs on paper,” he said.