The Local Content legislative Instrument 2204, was passed to among other things to ensure active participation of indigenous Ghanaians along the entire petroleum value chain.

Speaking at the commissioning of a Mechanical and Welding Workshop at the Kikam Technical Institute at Kikam in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region,  Mr. Armah Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ellembelle Constituency, noted that “…in terms of direct jobs, approximately 7,000 people have been employed in the upstream [petroleum] sector, comprising of 5,590 Ghanaians and 1,350 expatriates. out of the 474 companies registered with the Petroleum Commission, 321 are indigenous companies and 46 are joint venture companies.”

A substantial amount of the US$4 billion spent on the Tweneboa Enyera Ntomme (TEN) Project from 2010 to 2016 according to Mr. Buah, was spent in the country.

Contracts issued to indigenous Ghanaian service providers according to him, were also in excess of US$221million, about 73 percent increment compared to the US$ 128million for 2015.

Mr. Buah, who was optimistic of more gains under the local content LI in the years ahead, expressed the commitment of the John Mahama-led administration towards making local content and local capacity building the cornerstone of the Ghanaian oil and gas industry.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Local content law empowering Ghanaians – Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Buah said this at Axim in the Western Region as he confirmed that the letter was a hoax and should not be taken seriously.

He was responding to a document on social media with a message of a potential return of dumsor because the government of Cote d’Ivoire planned to cut power supply to Ghana due to its debts.

The letter said Cote d’Ivoire would cease to supply power to Ghana from November 21, 2016 and surcharge the country $602 million for contract impairments.

But the Energy Minister said, “I have dealt with the Minister of Energy in Cote d’Ivoire, Adama Toungara. I have his signature, that is not his signature. That is a complete fabrication.”

“We know where it is coming from; this is really coming from the opposition. They are desperate, they are dumbfounded, they are very confused. Their hope was that the dumsor they have been preaching about will stay to the elections and they don’t know how to respond to it,” Mr. Buah said.

It currently estimated that Ghana imports about 185 megawatts of power from Cote d’Ivoire and according to the electricity sector players, Côte d’Ivoire generates thermal power at the cost of 9 cents per kilowatt hour and sells it to Ghana for 11 cents.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opposition behind hoax dumsor letter – Armah Kofi Buah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.