Countries relying on GNPC for advice – KK Sarpong

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong, has said that other countries are falling on the GNPC for advice as far as the management of the petroleum upstream sector is concerned.

His comments come on the back of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the GNPC and its counterparts from three African countries including Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia.

The MoU is purposed to share experiences in the management of the petroleum upstream sector among these countries. The GNPC is also preparing to sign another MoU with Guyana for the same purpose.

He said the move will offer Ghana the opportunity to also tap into the expertise of these countries.

Dr. KK Sarpong disclosed this to Accra-based Citi FM at the 3rd Africa Oil and Gas Local Content Sustainability Summit.

He said : “We believe that we need to share experience from other countries as a way of improving what we do. MoU’s are necessary.

“Our organization has been there for nearly four decades and we have the expertise, we can export talents so we are looking at all these opportunities and in fact, I can say that our brothers and sisters in other countries are knocking on our doors for advice and that is precisely what we trying to do.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has sent a strong indication that it will increase its monitoring mechanism to ensure Petroleum companies within the Upstream Oil Sector adhere to local Content regulations.

This, the Corporation believes will increase Ghanaian participation in the Petroleum Industry.

Currently, Indigenous companies have complained that they are unable to participate fully in the Petroleum Upstream sector due to a lack of funds and capacity.

Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong said his outfit will effectively monitor the activities of companies operating in the Petroleum industry to ensure they reserve the quota for Local companies for indigenous firms.

“Certain activities are expected to be undertaken by Ghanaians and that must be so. Oil companies have got all manner of schemes so they don’t comply with that.”