Ghana: Upstream Petroleum Chamber Declare Support For New Energy Minister

Oil exploration companies operating in the Republic of Ghana have indicated their willingness to support government through a collaborative process by bringing industry and government together to address pertinent issues affecting the sector.

The exploration companies, under its umbrella body, Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber expressed its readiness to support the new energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, when the group, led by its Chief Executive Officer Mr. David Ampofo, led a three-man delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Minister at the Ministry on Monday to formally welcome him to the sector.

Giving the background to the chamber, Mr. Ampofo explained that it had arisen out of a collaboration between companies involved in exploration and production activities in the petroleum upstream sector.

However, two years ago this collaboration was formalized to set up the chamber, primarily to focus on advocacy regarding the upstream sector and build the relationship between the industry and other stakeholders.

The chamber is made up of Eni, Tullow, Kosmos, Anadarko, Vitol, Modec,Aker Energy, ExxonMobil, Heritage, AGM, Subsea 7 and Cirrus Oil Services Limited.

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Mr Ampofo emphasized that it was important to bring Ghanaian service companies on board and that the chamber was actively working to bring them into the chamber in order to make it more representative of the industry.

Mr. Ampofo indicated further that it was the chamber’s aim to improve the collaboration between the industry and government through the Minister and assured Dr. Prempeh of the chamber’s support.

Thanking the delegation for the visit, the Minister stressed that in undertaking their admirable role, it was important for the chamber to be mindful of the important balancing act between the interests of the industry, which comprises international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Ghana and that of the government and people of Ghana.

He indicated his strong support for the idea of local content as the most viable way in which Ghanaian businesses can get to play a meaningful role in the energy sector.