The Petroleum Commission (PC) of Ghana would expose indigenous Ghanaian companies that fronted for foreign businesses, which are taking undue advantage of concessions made available for qualified “local content” establishments at the upstream sector in the oil and gas industry.
Mrs Juliette Twumasi-Anokye, Co-ordinator for Local Content at the PC, announced at the pre-event press conference of Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition, held in Accra on Thursday.
Mrs Twumasi-Anokye reminded the public that the fronting for foreign companies by Ghanaians was a criminal offense.
The event was organized by the PennWell Corporation in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the United Kingdom Trade and Investment Section of the British High Commission.
Mrs Twumasi-Anokye who is also a legal advisor to the Commission, said the PC carried out continuous registration of companies desirous of operating in the oil and gas industry.
She said that would help promote local participation in petroleum activities and assessment of all applications for the issuance of permits for specific petroleum ventures as required by law.
The Commission was established in response to the demands of Article 269 of the 1992 Constitution, which required the body to monitor and ensure compliance with national policies, laws, regulations, agreements on health, safety and environmental standards in petroleum activities.
The PC is also to ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental standards in petroleum activities in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and agreements, and ensuring that persons involved in petroleum activities comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Mrs Twumasi-Anokye observed that some graduates lacked information about opportunities, skills and services as well as ancillary economic activities available at the upstream sector.
She was optimistic that the upcoming Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition would feature various seasoned and experience experts in the oil and gas sector, who would speak on issues that would help inform those desiring to pursue career and employment opportunities in the industry.
Mrs Twumasi-Anokye urged the media to give the event the continued publicity it deserved.
Mr Theo Ahwireng, the Advisory Board Chairman of Offshore West African 2013, noted that the focus on Ghana was not a mere accident as the country had chalked out a number of successes in the oil industry.
According to Mr Ahwireng, Ghana had also made a lot of discoveries in her oil fields hence the need to stimulate the opportunities associated with them.
The conference, which is expected to attract more than 60 countries worldwide, would address key technology and developmental issues for the West African Offshore oil and gas market, through a comprehensive educational programme.
It is slated to take place between March 19 and March 21, 2013 in Accra under the theme: “Deepwater Discoveries, emerging opportunities”.
The conference would afford the opportunity for attendees to share technological experiences with experts in their respective fields.
Topics to be dissected include construction and drilling operations, field developments, subsea technology, safety and environmental concerns as well as promotion of local contents.
Other topics are the assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources, offshore West African projects performance and the comparative of fiscal regime in the Gulf of Guinea.
The 17th edition conference is under the patronage of Ghana’s Ministry Of Energy, the Ghana Petroleum Commission and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.
Source: GNA
GHANAIANS ARE ALWAYS OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY BECAUSE OF SLAVE MENTALITY, GREEDY, CORRUPT AND LACK OF VISION. WE ALWAYS SEEMS NOT TO GET IT WHY ARE WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THIS FOREIGNERS WHILES OUR PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SUFFER. THESE CRIMINALS NEED TO BE EXTEMINATED FROM SOCIETY.
INCLUDE ALL SECTORS MINING, AS WELL AS OTHER BUSINESSES. OUR PEOPLE AND LEADERS ARE MOST WICKED DO NOT HAVE VISION AND IGNORANT. I WISH ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO SEE HOW DEVELOP COUNTRIES DEVELOP AND LEAVE LEGACY.