Call for appointment of qualified Nzemas to key energy sector positions

Nzema Youth call on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that key appointments in the energy sector—particularly the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) and the leadership of the Petroleum Hub

Development Corporation —are reserved for qualified individuals from Nzema land. This appeal is based on the spirit of the local content law and policy (Oil & Gas), and the strategic contributions of the Nzema people to Ghana’s energy sector and the need for equitable representation.

The local content law and policy requires prioritization of indigenes for employment in the petroleum industry. For the first time since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in the Western Region, neither the Minister for Energy nor his Deputy hails from Western Region.

This development, while reflective of the President’s discretion in appointments, has inadvertently sidelined the people whose land and resources form the backbone of Ghana’s petroleum industry.

The absence of Nzema representation at the highest levels of energy governance is a departure from past precedent and raises concerns about inclusivity and fairness.

With the discovery of oil in the Jubilee Fields and the establishment of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, our land and resources have played a pivotal role in national development.

However, with the emergence of Ghana Gas, Nzema and western region youth have been alienated from employment. The worse experience of this alienation was under the leadership of Dr. Ben Asante.

Appointment of Ing. Dr Robert Lartey as Ghana Gas CEO will further exacerbate this alienation issue in the company. Dr Lartey who was the operation manager has inflicted many issues to us. The Nzema and Western region have long been the main center of Ghana’s oil and gas industry.

It is, therefore, imperative that qualified Nzema professionals, who possess the requisite knowledge and expertise, be given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s progress at the highest levels.

We strongly urge His Excellency the President to consider the appointment of competent Nzema professionals to key leadership positions within Ghana Gas and the Petroleum Hub. This will not only ensure equity and regional balance in national governance but also uphold the principle of inclusivity, which is vital for national unity and sustainable development.

As a people, we remain committed to Ghana’s progress and stand ready to support the government’s vision for the energy sector. However, we strongly believe that the contributions of the Nzema and Western Region must be duly recognized and rewarded through strategic appointments that reflect our vital role in the industry.