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.
