Respect our Rules or Face the Law-Kofi Buah Tells Oil Companies

Story by: Samuel Ablordeppey

Respect our Rules or Face the Law - Kofi Buah tells Oil Companies

As part of efforts to ensure Ghanaians take active part in the OIL business, the

Ministry of Energy has called on oil companies operating in Ghana to abide by the

Draft Local content Policy or face punitive actions.

The Draft Local content Policy was a legislation pursued by the sector ministry to

ensure that the OIL find benefits the people of Ghana and allow the locals to be at

the forefront of the oil industry.

The Energy Ministry further stated that non compliance by the Oil companies will

attract dire penalties. ‘’ the laws of Ghana must be respected and not violated and

we demand that Oil companies respect the laws.’’ the ministry said.

In an interview with RADIO GOLD in Accra, a Deputy Minister of Energy in Charge of

Energy Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said, the local content policy would not only

guarantee the people direct employment but also afford them the opportunity to

supply goods and provide essential services.

He explained that the process of the passage of the draft local content policy by

cabinet began by soliciting views from Ghanaians and the oil companies, so this

makes the policy complete for which reason it must be respected.

‘’The oil companies know the right thing to do; they know the priorities of the

President-that the oil and gas find have to be a blessing and not a curse for the

people of Ghana. The people of Ghana must see real benefits in the form of direct

employment, jobs, supply of goods and services, the local content policy is making

clear provisions which would give a legal backing to all these.’’ A deputy minister

said.

On whether the oil companies had started implementing the draft policy already, a

deputy Energy minister who is also the member of parliament for the Ellembele

constituency in the Western region said, there are a lot more work to be done. To

that end the ministry would hold a stakeholders meeting on the 9th of November this

year to observe and review programs lined up by the oil companies which would allow

Ghanaians play significant roles in the companies.

According to Hon. Buah, the stakeholders meeting is one of the ways to guaranteeing

tangible benefits in the oil sector were given to the locals, he further stated that

the ministry would also undertake regular visits to the oil companies to ensure they

abide by the Draft Local content Policy.

When asked if Ghana have the capacity and expertise to manage the oil sector the

Ellembelle M.P said, ‘not being naïve about our own capacity, government has taken

steps to help strengthen some key institutions including the Poly-Technique, the

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the ministry of

Energy.’’ Buah Said.