Partnerships with chiefs in the Western Region is key to sustain and safeguard the environment for effective petroleum industry in Ghana, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO)of Petroleum Commission, Egbert Faibille, Jnr, has stated.
Such partnership, he argued, would create a platform for the House to share with the Commission your concerns and also provide advice as to how we should conduct the business of government in the sector.
MrFaibille stated these on Thursday, at the 7th edition of PCs annual engagement with the Western Regional House of Chiefs to discuss matters affecting the upstream petroleum industry.
The CEO expressed joy about the relationship PC had built with the House, a major stakeholder in the upstream sector, over the years, noting that “your contributions to our operations have been of immense benefit.”
MrFaibille said, meetings of the Joint Petroleum Commission-Western Region House of Chiefs Working Group that met twice yearly, to discuss urgent and recurring social and community related issues, stopped for sometime, due to the spread of COVID-19, and subsequent restrictions.
However, with the easing of restrictions, he assured that, the next engagement might be held early next year.
“I encourage the Working Group to remain steadfast with its mission of establishing the linkage between oil and gas and the regional economy, providing alternative livelihood for households who may be affected by the oil and gas sector.”
The PC, MrFaibille said, believed chiefs and traditional rulers, were best placed to understand the needs and aspirations of the people, the challenges of the local environment and local economy (including the fishery sector), including the dynamics of the different groups living in the local environment.
He continued“An enduring partnership with the Regional House Chiefs and other key stakeholders is the guaranteed way of ensuring that the desired level of change for the region is achieved. Again, it would require that our institutions work together in trust, openness, engagement, participation, and accountability.”
For 2021, he reported that the PC developed the Cumulative Impact Co-Management Platform (CIMP)to ensure that the oil and gas operations did not only affect the environment but could also affect fishing and other lawful economic activities.
He said, a Technical Committee meeting comprising Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Fisheries Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Navy Marine Police and Exploration and Production companies in active production and pre-development stages, was held at the Commission on November 25, this year.
MrFaibilleexplained that“The main purpose of the platform is to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the effective management of cumulative impacts of offshore oil and gas project development and production operations in the Western Region of Ghana.”
Again, to ensure an improved social harmony and managing perceptions/expectations, a sensitisation exercise held afforded the Commission to listen to the fisherfolk on their concerns on the fishing oil and gas industries, he said.
“The purpose of the exercise was to provide fisherfolks with industry updates and education on the Exclusive Zones (EZs) in accordance with the Safe Sea Access Framework (SSAF) to ensure a reduction in incursions into the marked safety zones by fishing activities; thereby maintaining a conducive environment for sustainable activities along the upstream oil and gas value chain,” the CEO added.
He commended the House for the engagement which is indicative of our collective resolve to collaborate and work as stakeholders to promote shared prosperity in upstream petroleum industry.
The Omanhen of Essikado, Nana KobinaNketsiah V, who chaired the meeting, noted that since 2007, Ghana had made some gains in the upstream oil and gas activities but, suggested the services must be hears especially on corporate social responsibility programmes.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SEKONDI
The post Role of chiefs key to viable petroleum industry – Egbert Faibille appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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