In a bid to promote transparency and keep Ghanaians updated on the happenings in the upstream petroleum sector, the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Petroleum Commission launched Ghana’s first ever Petroleum Register.
The development of the register is in accordance with the Petroleum Exploration and Production, Act 2016, Act 919.It is a means to promote transparency especially with respect to contract awarded in the upstream petroleum industry.
The register among other things will be the single point of disclosure of upstream petroleum activities in the country.
At the launch in Accra last week, a Deputy Minister in charge of petroleum at the Ministry of Energy, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam praised the Petroleum Commission for deepening transparency in the oil and gas sector by developing the Petroleum register.
Ghanaians, Dr Adam said would now have access to petroleum contracts through the petroleum register, declaring that the register will kill the perceived opaqueness in undertaking petroleum business. He added that “today has closed that chapter in our country’s history because it has lifted the veil for fairness transparency and accountability in the petroleum sector.”
Dr Adams indicated that as a country, Ghana had come a long way towards judicious exploitation of its natural resources in a more transparent manner for the benefit of its citizenry. That, he said, led to the adoption of the EITI initiative in 2003.
“We have made tremendous strides in deepening transparency in the oil and gas industry. The contribution of the oil and gas sector to the national economy cannot be understated. Government sees the sector as one of the most important for economic transformation. It is in this regard that we need to improve upon transparency and accountability and bring prudent coordination not only in the oil and gas sector but to other sectors of our economy.”
The launching of this register is in fulfillment of the manifesto of the NPP government which promised Ghanaians that ‘’ we were going to work to improve on transparency and democratic accountability’’
Mr Egbert Faibille Jnr, Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission stated that, the move shows the commitment of the government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to the management and deployment of the country’s hydrocarbon resources.
Mr Faibille noted that “for the first time, there is a register with respect to petroleum that anybody can go on the website and find out the petroleum agreement and everything about petroleum, its uses and how it is worked on in Ghana.”
“For us it is a huge thing for the people of Ghana. Apart from Ghanaians themselves, it is also good for our partners from all over the world who would want to know what goes on in Ghana at any particular point in time regarding how we manage our hydrocarbon resources.
Responding to the perceived secrecy in the oil and gas industry, the CEO pointed out that “Some of those concerns are perceptions but that perceptions sometimes can be true but this will go almost hundred percent to clear any doubt from the minds of anybody.
He added that, This resource that have been launched will help people to find out what is happening in the petroleum industry and to understand what it entails and to educate themselves on personal or carrier development; so it is a huge thing.”
By Mohammed Suleman
