The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Madam Emeafa Hardcastle and some management staff of the Commission paid a courtesy call on some of the key stakeholders in the upstream petroleum industry in the Western Region.
The visits form part of the Commission’s efforts to deepen institutional collaboration between the Commission and its stakeholders. The four-day visit began with the team’s first point of call at the Airforce Base in Takoradi where the Base Commander, Air Commodore Kwabena Atiemo, received and walked the team through the operations of the base with emphasis on airspace control management and surveillance.
He reassured the team of the commitment of the base towards the activities of the Commission and the upstream petroleum operations in general.
At the Western Region House of Chiefs (WRHC) in Sekondi, the Chiefs took turns to congratulate the Ag. CEO on her new role and assured her of their support. The President of the WRHC, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, commended the Commission for the effective collaboration over the past decade which has yielded desired results.
“As a House, we are committed to ensuring that your tenure becomes successful” Nana Nketsia V intimated. The WRHC reiterated its long-awaited request for the refurbishment of its Chamber and the need for a regional hospital.
Ms. Hardcastle, in her remarks, thanked the Chiefs for their warm reception, and informed members of the WRHC that this is her first official trip outside Accra since her appointment and added that the Commission recognises the role the Chiefs play in the upstream petroleum industry. “The Commission cherishes its relationship with Nananom and Awulaemo and I found it very expedient to meet with you and assure you of my support and commitment to build on the already mutually beneficial relationship between the Commission and the WRHC” she stressed. Some of the discussions with the WRHC included incursions around oil and gas installations by fisherfolk, social investment programmes by oil and gas companies, livelihood enhancement programmes, among others.
At the Western Region Coordinating Council (WRCC), the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Nelson, welcomed the team and congratulated Madam Hardcastle on her appointment as the CEO of the Commission. He was pleased that the CEO earlier paid a courtesy call on the House of Chiefs. Mr. Joseph Nelson assured the PC team that Western Region, being the host of Ghana’s hydrocarbons, would offer its support to the regulator to enable it to achieve its objectives.
Madam Hardcastle told the Regional Minister that her team could not visit the Western Region without paying respect to him. “Western Region is key to the upstream petroleum sector, and we are here throughout the week to meet with some of the oil and gas companies to find out their challenges and what the Petroleum Commission can do for them” she said.
The team also called on the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority in Takoradi and toured its USD100 million Oil and Gas Services Terminal, featuring a 550-meter quay wall and a 200,000 sqm serviced land area which is a world-class shore base platform for the oil and gas industry. The terminal was commissioned in November, 2024.
The Director of the Port of Takoradi, Mr. Peter Amoo Bediako, noted that although there have been some challenges in providing efficient services, the Port of Takoradi has offered strategic support for the upstream oil and gas industry.
He urged the Commission to encourage oil and gas service companies wishing to operate in Ghana to set up at the Port. Indigenous Ghanaian companies including Belmet 7, Amaja and Conship also hosted the Commission on separate visits and walked the Commission’s team through their operations and discussed some challenges confronting them. The team also visited the Sekondi Naval Base, Takoradi Technical University, Seaweld Engineering, Westline Oil & Gas, Wayoe Engineering, Harlequin, 2 EN, Apave, Rigworld, Orsam, Zeal Environmental, Zoil, Chemsolv and Champion X.
The Ag. CEO took the opportunity to hold meetings with staff of the Western Region Office of the Petroleum Commission.
