A Senior Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Mrs Anita Lokko has stated that the Local Content Bill currently before Parliament is intended to ensure that investor�s partner indigenous companies to guarantee the transfer of knowledge, expertise and technical know-how to build capacity of Ghanaian companies to enable them participate fully in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking with a group of investors from Scotland in the country to research the oil and gas industry and consider investment opportunities at the Ministry, Mrs Lokko noted that every project, operation, activity or transaction must have a Local Content Plan which shall include all aspects of the Local Content framework.
She explained that the Local Content Policy Framework indicates Government�s commitment to ensuring that Ghanaians companies have major stake in the oil and gas industry.
Furthermore, Mrs Lokko said the Local Content Bill when passed by Parliament will mandates an Operator in the petroleum sub-sector to ensure that opportunities are given as far as possible for the employment of Ghanaians having the requisite expertise or qualifications at various levels in the oil and gas sector.
Mr Alex Kyei, a Director in charge of the Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project at the Energy and Petroleum Ministry elaborated some efforts by the Ministry to build capacity of Ghanaians to meet standards in international oil and gas industry.
He explained that the Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project which is a $38million World Bank funded project is equipping technical universities in the country to make sure they attain required standards for training in the oil and gas sector, adding that the project has sponsored the training of HND, Degree and Masters holders as well as Lawyers to upgrade their knowledge in oil and gas.
Mr Andy Monaghan, an International Senior Executive of the Scottish Development International (SDI) and leader of the delegation said Ghana Government�s efforts to improve activities in the oil and gas sector �moved the group� to come prospect for investment opportunities.
Mr Monaghan noted that the Scottish Government has prioritized some industries to pay attention to including oil and gas which they are known worldwide to be a key player in, saying, �Scotland�s oil and gas industry is arguably one of the best offshore industries in the world, we have 1800 companies operating and export services of about $15bn services annually and see Ghana as a country with a great potential in the oil and gas industry, hence our visit.�
The SDI delegation included Steve Penman, Client Director of Adept Solution, and IT consulting firm, Patrick Saracco, Corporate Business Development Manager of CUT Group, an in-house diamond wire cutting manufacturer and Brian Emslie, Managing Director of Surelift NDT ltd, providers of wire ropes, slings and fabricators of lifting beams and other welded structures.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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