Ghana oil and gas service providers association inaugurated in the Western Region

By Julius Ceaser Anadem

An association to monitor and promote local content and assist in the training and provision of oil and gas services in Ghana has been inaugurated at Takoradi. The association made up of financial agencies and oil service providers will streamline service provision in Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry.It’s been barely two years, since oil and gas resources were discovered in commercial quantities in Ghana off the coast of the Western Region.

The discovery has motivated the government, private entrepreneurs and other individuals to bring their expertise on board to promote and harness benefits from the maiden industry. As envisaged, commercial drilling of Ghana`s oil will start in June 2010. The onus is therefore on government to put in place appropriate structures that will streamline the emerging industry. It is against this backdrop and the experiences of other countries, that Service Providers to Ghana’s emerging oil and gas industry have come together to form an association to monitor the industry and provide it, with the best professional services.

The President of the Ghana Oil and Gas Services Providers Association Kwesi Agbesinyale made these known at a ceremony to outdoor executives of the Association. He said there was the need for local industries including service providers to tap into the benefits that the oil find brings.The Sekondi Takoradi Metro Chief Executive, Kobina Prah Annan said the Western Region in particular must get the most out of oil sector, since cocoa , bauxite , gold and timber had almost eluded the people.The Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, Awulae Attibrukusu III proposed the establishment of a Special Oil Fund for the Western region to speed up human resource and infrastructural development in the region.