The Petroleum Commission has engaged the Western Region House of Chiefs (WRHC) Working Group in a consultative meeting that took place on Thursday 5th May,2022 in Takoradi.
The meeting sought to discuss the current activities in the upstream petroleum sector particularly on community relations and social investment issues.
In his welcome address, Director Local Content at the Petroleum Commission and Chairman of the Working Group, Mr. Kwaku Boateng expressed his appreciation at the opportunity to meet Nananom and Awulae Mo’ of the WRHC Working Group to deliberate on matters that are of interest to the host communities.
“Nananom, Awulae Mo’, as the Chair of this Working Group, I am very expectant that this meeting will be interactive where we will be able to share ideas graciously with the view of improving on the socio-economic development of the Region,” he said.
“We anticipate that by the end of this meeting, our objectives will be accomplished to ensure that relevant issues affecting our host communities are addressed,” he added.
Speaking on the updates of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities embarked on, Head of Community Relations at the Petroleum Commission, Ms Sekyiwa Darko briefed the Working Group on ENI’s Livelihood Development Projects (LRP) and extension of the LRP to September 2021. She further briefed the Working Group on the status of the Social Performance Guidelines, the draft charter of the Working Group, Social Investment Projects, the Cumulative Impact Co-Management Platform and progress of work on the Greenhouse Vegetable Project and other sustainable and beneficial interventions undertaken in the host communities.
Project Evaluation Officer at the Petroleum Commission, Ms Phoebe Afful, on her part explained the petroleum value chain and the processes involved in the exploitation of oil and gas from the inception period of block bidding to decommissioning adding that the latter is essential and mandated by law. This she said is to ensure that the natural environment of the blocks is restored.
Awulae Attibrukusu III and other members said the explanatory presentations and explanations on interventions will afford them the opportunity to address concerns of their communities tabled before them.
The Vice-Chairman of the Working Group, Awulae Agenfi Kwame II commended the Commission for the regular updates. He called for more collaborative efforts in ensuring that there is even distribution of oil resource projects in their host communities.
Source: Petroleum Commission