Traning for the youth

Oil & Gas Training For Volta Youth Victoria receiving her certificate from Dumega Okudzeto Training programmes geared towards training the youth of the Volta region to prepare them for the production of the huge offshore and onshore oil deposits in the Keta Basin are being rolled out in earnest. The first of such training programmes took place at Keta, the coastal municipal capital in the Volta region. 200 graduates, including women, underwent a three-month course and were awarded their certificates last week Friday. An association called Volta Oil and Gas Association (VOGA) has also been created by the trainees with Charles Anthonio as its President. Mr. Anthonio, in speech at the function, urged the government and for that matter, the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders  to include the study of oil and gas in the Integrated Science syllabus at the Junior and Senior High levels in order to make the study of Petro-physics at the university and polytechnic levels easy. He further stated that international financial analysts were hyping information that in the coming years Ghana would be become one of the leading oil crude producer countries because of the impending production of oil in the Keta Basin. The President of the Association disclosed that the decision was taken to prepare the indigenes to play crucial roles in the oil industry in the Keta Basin. He added that there were members from north to south of the region, stating that each member is also equipped with the needed knowledge to locate crude oil and to determine its quantity. Sylvester Tornyeavah, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive, who was the guest speaker, said since 2007 when Ghana found oil the international community has been eagerly waiting to see if the find would be a curse like some other countries on the continent where oil discovery was made. He added that the government had put measures in place to judiciously use the oil find to develop the country. He congratulated all the stakeholders for the bold decision taken to get professionals ahead of the total production of oil and gas in the Volta region so as avoid the mistakes being made by their brothers and sisters in the Western region, where foreigners took over a large percentage of the industry. The MCE counseled the trainees not see the three-month programme as a guarantee to secure jobs since the oil and gas industry requires sophistication. The chairman of the occasion, Dumegah Raymond Okudzeto, in his remarks, stated that it would be suicidal for people in the area not take advantage of the God-given natural resources by preparing the youth and empowering them to take the commanding heights of the oil and gas sector of the economy. “If by a carefully coordinated campaign and determination, we are able to train thousands of our youth in oil and gas and other auxiliary industries, then we would be on the war path to poverty reduction and accelerated economic development,” he stressed. Dumega Okudzeto, the founder and president of Volta Foundation, a development NGO and an international businessman, indicated that if the youth were aggressively encouraged to develop the necessary courage and fortitude to venture into the industry, many of them would not need to travel far to find employment in the wake of activities in the Volta Basin. He further disclosed that his outfit was working hard to lay a solid base for the Volta region by pursuing the construction of the Keta habour to serve as a backbone for the oil industry. He added that plans were far advanced to construct an oil refinery in the region and a railway line to the refinery. Another project, Dumega Okudzeto mentioned, was the development of a first class sports infrastructure in the region to train the youth in endurance and fitness to pursue other careers of their choice. In a good will message to VOGA, a member of the Council of State, Dr. Bernard Glover debunked the notion held by many people that the southern sector of the Volta region was economically self-sufficient and that there was no need for serious government intervention. He indicated that because of the widely-held notion a body had been formed to lobby government for more development funds in the area. From Amos Amaglo, Keta

Government, Millennium Challenge Corporation Advance Preparations for Ghana II Compact

Government, Millennium Challenge Corporation Advance Preparations for Ghana II Compact * Print * Email * Created on Tuesday, 30 July 2013 08:49 Energy Minister, Hon. Kofi Buah, (2nd from right) exchanges signed document with Jonathan O. Bloom of the MCC (left) while the Veep Amissah-Arthur (middle) and US Ambassador, H.E. G. Cretz (2nd from left) look onPreparations for the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) on Tuesday July 23, 2013 took a giant leap with the signing of an agreement between the Government of Ghana and the MCC concerning the processes involved in making sure the project begins next year. The MCC is working with the Government to define potential projects for the second compact, which will seek to address Ghana’s inadequate power supply. The Corporation is also collaborating with other U.S. Government agencies in the energy sector through the Partnership for Growth initiative, which is intended to create the next generation of emerging markets through better coordination of objectives and resources. The Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who signed on behalf of the government, said the agreement includes milestones that the country wishes to reach during the next six to 12 months to herald the beginning of projects under the compact. Jonathan O. Bloom, Acting Vice President – Department of Compact Operations of the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed for the MCC. In a brief remark ahead of signing the agreement, the Minister said the areas of interest to the government and the MCC included restructuring the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Gas sector and Tariffs issues. According to him, the MCC’s requirement for the ECG to commit to an aggressive loss reduction campaign has significantly been met with the reduction of aggregate losses from 43% in 2010 to 37% as of the end of June 2013. Hon. Buah said the ECG will continue its current loss reduction programme with a goal of further reducing aggregate losses to 34% by June next year with progress continuing thereafter. He said the Ministry of Finance has also cleared GH¢207.5 million of arrears to ECG as of June 2013, adding that the ECG has installed prepayment meters in 2,100 out of 2,500 Ministries, Departments and Agencies with the Ministry of Finance budget instruction including a provision mandating MDAs to pay their own utility bills. The Minister said the government and the MCC have agreed to consider a company-wide approach for the potential ECG distribution project rather than restricting it to a specific region tu the Ministry of Energy encouraging a study of a full range of private sector participation options for ECG and NEDCo. On the gas sector, the Minister said gas allocation and pricing policy has been officially approved by Cabinet and the procurement process for the Gas Sector Master Plan has been initiated. Touching on supply, he said the Ghana National Gas Company was currently in negotiations with the Jubilee partners on the Gas Supply Agreement, adding that the off-shore gas infrastructure and processing plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2013. “The government of Ghana has made a decision to diversify the source of gas supply by commencing the implementation of a national liquefied natural gas (LNG) import strategy”, he stated. On tariffs, Hon. Buah said all utilities have filed tariff adjustment application to the public utilities regulatory commission (PURC) which is currently engaged in stakeholder consultations. Mr. Bloom, for his part, explained that the corporation, before finally approving the release of funds for projects identified, ensures that there are some institutional reforms at the sector level, to guarantee that the investments that are going to be made by MCC will stay for a long time. Present at the signing ceremony were the Vice President, Mr. Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Mr. P. V. Obeng, Chief Executives of energy sector agencies, the US Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Gene A. Cretz and other officials from the MCC. Story by Communications Unit, MoEP.

White house honoured

The White House in the United States of America (USA) has honoured a Ghanaian entrepreneur, Dr Ashifi Gogo, as one of the 11 Immigrant Innovators at its “Champions of Change” awards ceremony held recently. Dr Gogo, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Sproxil Worldwide, has been operating in the USA as a technology entrepreneur, having established the company in 2008. Sproxil, a global leader of sms-based mobile product authentication (MPA) and intelligent brand protection, now operates in five countries, including Ghana. The Chief Technology Officer of the United States Government, Mr Todd Park, said at the event that the government was proud to honour immigrants, given their immense contribution to the development of the country's economy. “We are proud to recognise these leaders who work everyday to grow our economy, advance science and technology, and support their home communities," Mr Park added. The Champions of Change programme was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature groups of Americans – individuals, businesses and organisations – who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. The laurel is one of many recent honours received by Dr Gogo and his team at Sproxil Worldwide. On why he was singled out by the White House, Dr Gogo said "our work in emerging markets is transformational - using cellphones consumers already have in their pockets to reinstate information symmetry during purchases so that consumers don't get duped into buying fake products." "It's an empowering solution that has gained a lot of attraction and a humbling degree of social impact in a growing number of countries, he added. Sproxil’s MPA solution also received worldwide acclaim earlier this year when it received the Patents for Humanity Award issued by the US Department of Trade. Fast Company Magazine also ranked Sproxil as the Seventh Most Innovative Company in the World, ahead of Apple, Google, Pinterest and Safari, some of the established tech companies. The company's innovative MPA solution has proven to be a key success factor in the global fight against drug counterfeiting. The Country Manager of Sproxil Ghana, Mr Osei K. Agyeman-Buahin, explained that the MPA solution combats counterfeits by providing consumers a way to verify that the product they buy is genuine, through the use of a mobile phone and simple text message. “At point-of-purchase, users scratch a panel on the product to reveal a onetime-use code and text (SMS) the code to a mobile short code number. Within moments, a response is dispatched from our cloud-based system indicating the genuineness or otherwise of the item being authenticated. The user also gets a description of the product and a health tip," he said. Mr Agyeman-Buahin added that the benefits of Sproxil’s MPA would be felt all over Ghana within the next quarter as the company launched brand protection activity for two major global brands.

world Day of safty

France recognize Ghana's potential

President Francois Hollande President Francois Hollande President John Mahama and French President Francois Hollande have agreed on a number of projects to be financed under the French Development Agency’s support for Ghana. The two presidents, in a meeting at the Elysee Palace, discussed trade and development assistance to Ghana, improved military cooperation, security and democracy in West Africa and the Sahel regions of Africa, conflicts, terrorism and the need for Ghana to take advantage of its presence within a Francophone block to enhance the teaching and learning of the French language. President Hollande, who has just marked his first year in office, observed that despite their francophone-anglophone backgrounds, Ghana and France share a number of common views on governance and democracy. He observed that Ghana’s economic progress has been widely recognized, noting that the country and others in Africa are doing well at a time when the global economy is in recession. According to him, Ghana is one of the few countries with huge potential for growth in the world. President Hollande said he supports the new phase of his country’s relationship with Ghana, explaining that his invitation to President Mahama was aimed at enhancing that relationship and familiarize better with development in Ghana. The two presidents agreed to more French support in the area of tertiary education and support with French technical instructors and training of more Ghanaian French teachers in September. On Mali, President Hollande thanked Ghana for the support during the deployment of troops to Mali. He lauded Ghana for sending an engineering contingent to support the West African country. President Mahama thanked his host for the invitation and for sending a high-level team to the funeral of the late President John Atta Mills. He also acknowledged the growing presence of French businesses in Ghana, thanking the French government for the decision to keep Ghana among its 14 priority countries earmarked for support by the French Development Agency. Answering a question after the meeting on the outcome of such official and state visits, President Mahama told journalists that his visit to Turkey and now France have significant impact.

African Union at 50th

President John Dramani Mahama will leave Accra on Thursday to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to take part in activities to commemorate the 50thAnniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, now the Africa Union. A statement signed by Deputy Minister for Information Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the President, while in Addis Ababa, would take part in a forum of Heads of State and Governments on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). “President Mahama is expected to share with colleague heads of state, Ghana’s experience, learning and benefits from the APRM,” the statement noted. With many of the continent’s leaders looking up to him to champion a number of causes, President Mahama is expected to hold a number of meetings and also address the AU session on the way forward for the continent; enhancing security, improving human settlement and the fight against HIV and AIDS. Accompanying the President is the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, who will be attending a summit of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV & AIDS in Addis Ababa. From Ethiopia, President Mahama will pay a three‐day state visit to France at the invitation of President François Hollande and also attend the fifth TICAD Conference in Japan.

Italian Government is to release initial 10 million to support growth of small business

Laura Carpini with Haruna Iddrisu in a discussion The Italian Government is to release initial €10 million to support the growth of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana through a Credit Facility. This was disclosed when the Italian Ambassador, Laura Carpini paid a visit to Trade & Industry Minister, Haruna Idrissu at his office this morning. Ghanaian-Italian Project was established in 2003 to provide support to the small and medium enterprises in Ghana. Their discussions also focused on how to improve economic relations between the two countries especially the balance of trade, which is in favour of Italy and investment. The two identified areas such as agro-processing, jewellery production, leather-related industry, energy, agriculture and infrastructure where the two countries could benefit from joint partnerships. Haruna Idrissu, in a remark, said the position of government is to improve infrastructure through Public Private Partnership (PPP). On energy, Trade and Industry Minister said the interest of Government is in the generation of power to support the growth of business and gave the assurance that government will provide strategic incentives where necessary to investors. On her part, Ambassador Laura Carpini gave the assurance that Italian investors would respect the laws of Ghana and pledged that under no circumstances would the investors flout any of our laws. She said Italy will continue to support Ghana in diverse ways to deepen the cooperation between the two countries.

Ohene in accra

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday stormed the capital city, Accra, with a retinue of chiefs on what appears to be a peace mission during which he met political gladiators of the country. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he was in Accra to deliver a public lecture put together by the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), under the theme, ‘Advancing Together’, which was part of its annual Democracy Lectures. He however seized the opportunity to meet some key and influential people in the country, namely President John Dramani Mahama, whose election is being disputed in court, former President Jerry John Rawlings and Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 general elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Unfortunately, he could not meet former President John Agyekum Kufuor since he was out of the country. One thing that ran through his discussions with all three political leaders was the ongoing election petition before the Supreme Court. He urged all the parties to abide by the outcome of the court process. First was his meeting with President Mahama at the Flagstaff House where he urged the President to do all it takes to surmount the myriad of problems facing the nation, chief among which was unemployment and what had come to be known as ‘dumsor-dumsor’, the intermittent power outages that had beset the nation. *Flagstaff House*President Mahama seeing off Otumfuo Osei Tutu President Mahama seeing off Otumfuo Osei Tutu President Mahama on his part stressed the belief that the court process would unite Ghanaians more than it would divide them. “At a time when people think the nation is being buffeted by some uncertainty as a result of this court case, I do think it strengthens our democracy that even though we have a dispute, or somebody contesting the results of the elections, he has decided to go to court and we are giving the court the opportunity to listen to his grievance and find out whether it is genuine or not. “I think that it goes to strengthen our democracy that Ghana continues to show the way in terms of good governance, democracy and rule of law,” he was quoted as saying. *Rawlings’ Advice*Otumfuo Osei Tutu interacting with Mr and Mrs Rawlings Otumfuo Osei Tutu interacting with Mr and Mrs Rawlings From there, the Asantehene and his entourage went to meet former President Rawlings at his Ridge office where the NDC founder called on commentators on the election petition to present the facts as they were being told in court and desist from twisting and reshaping facts to fit into people’s prejudices and political agenda. This, he said, was in view of the fact that twisted or misshaped information would not augur well for Ghana’s future and stability. “It is beginning to seem as if people are listening only to what they want to hear and not the findings and evidence that are being provided daily; this is not right,” Mr Rawlings noted. On his part, the Asantehene commended Mr Rawlings for the role he played in reinstituting constitutional democratic governance. Present at the meeting were Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and spokesman for Mr Rawlings, Kofi Adams. *Nana Addo’s Commitment* Otumfuo and members of his delegation then moved to the Nima residence of Nana Akufo-Addo where he was met on arrival by his host and other high ranking members of the NPP. After the exchange of conviviality, the two went into discussions during which Otumfuo commended the NPP leader and his supporters for taking the noble decision to challenge the outcome of the 2012 elections in court and not on the streets with protests. He therefore asked not only Nana Akufo-Addo but all the parties involved in the ongoing election petition to do well in the spirit of nationalism to accept the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling. As always, the NPP leader pledged his party’s commitment to whatever the outcome of the court case would be since they believed in the rule of law. That notwithstanding, he said, “I’m confident that when the truth comes out, that is what will bring the peace and unity that we all seek in Ghana.” Nana Akufo-Addo therefore asked the Ashanti King to advise whoever was involved in the case before the Supreme Court to also accept the verdict in good faith. Nana Addo reiterated his commitment to maintaining and supporting the peace prevailing in the country. According to him, NPP members and supporters would not indulge in any acts that would destabilise the country. He told Otumfuo Osei Tutu that the good record of the NPP was there to show that they were a peace-loving party, and had always accepted the outcome of elections organized by the Electoral Commission. He however pointed out that the party decided to go to court this time around because of the widespread irregularities that characterized the 2012 December general elections. Flanked by his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia, Party Chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and a host of other party officials, Nana Akufo-Addo said the irregularities that characterized the 2012 December general elections could not make the results a true reflection of the will of Ghanaians. “We respect and believe in the Supreme Court, that is why we have petitioned them and we will accept any decision or verdict they make,” he said. By Charles Takyi-Boadu

Ghana commends Canada

Mahama commends CanadaPublished on May 15, 2013 The Governor General of Canada is on a state visit to Ghana The Governor General of Canada is on a state visit to Ghana President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday commended the Canadian Government for continuously supporting Ghana in her development agenda, particularly in health, water and agriculture, over the years. He said, “Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has become a household name, especially rural Northern Ghana, for its support in the provision of potable water, health facilities and food security.” President Mahama gave this commendation when he held a joint news conference with David Johnston, Governor General, who was on a three-day working visit to Ghana. The President said the Canadian Government had also partnered Ghana through the establishment of the Northern Regional Integrated Programme (NORRIP) to ensure provision of water and health facilities as well as promotion of agriculture for the rural areas. He said the Canadian Government through the Canadian Commercial Cooperation had also supported Ghana in the construction of a thermal plant that had added 130 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The President said the Cooperation was expected to support Ghana to complete another 130 megawatts of electricity in the coming months. President Mahama indicated that the next collaboration between the two countries would be in the areas of rail, sea and aviation transport and agriculture where Canada had the comparative advantage over Ghana. He said “Government spends 11.5 percent of Ghana’s income on agriculture and it will therefore collaborate more with Canada that has tremendous experience in agricultural production”. Mr Johnston commended Ghana for her strides in politics, governance and economic growth over the years. “This country is a leader among African Nations. Canada is proud of its ties with Ghana, our partner in the Commonwealth and in numerous spheres of society, and together we share the goal of building smarter, more caring societies and a fairer, more just world. We have many values and aspirations in common,” he said. Mr Johnson expressed satisfaction that Ghana and Canada were currently collaborating in the areas of post-secondary education, which he said would create an enabling environment for jobs to be created for many school leavers in the country. “The Canadian organizations are also working alongside their Ghanaian counterparts to promote volunteerism and corporate social responsibility… and Canadians and Ghanaians have so much to learn from and offer each other.” Mr Johnson said Ghana had made solid economic gains in recent years that had been noticed around the world, including Canada and many Canadian firms and enterprises had found Ghana to be a positive place to do business. Apart from laying wreaths on the tombs of late President Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, the Governor General also held talks with President Mahama, visited the University of Ghana, and would be leaving for Kumasi on Wednesday.

Investors Confident in Ghana

Mawuena Trebarh Mawuena Trebarh The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Investments Promotion Council (GIPC), Mawuena Trebarh insists foreign investors have firm belief in Ghana’s democracy. Foreign investors, she said, are ready to transact business in the country. Investors are reluctant to do business in African countries, including Ghana due to fears of political instability. However, Mrs. Trebarh said investors see Ghana as a stable democracy. Explaining further, she said the number of investors that transacted business in the country increased sharply in 2008 and 2012, which were election years. Ghana over the years has proven to the international community that it is a safer place politically, socially and economically, she said. “This remarkable achievement has heightened interest among foreign investors in transacting business in the country.” Mrs. Trebarh, who was appointed in February 2013, disclosed this while interacting with some selected media personnel in Kumasi over the weekend. She seized the opportunity to share her vision with them. The CEO of GIPC said she would work to boost Ghana’s image as a country on the international stage to woo more investors. She noted that she would work assiduously to strengthen key areas. Mrs. Trebarh noted that plans were far advanced to spread investments across the country so that more people would benefit. She said GIPC would develop a database to showcase the operations of local investors to the world. Mrs. Trebarh said she would invite investors to invest in Ghana’s health sector, adding that the assemble of medical equipment in the country by foreign investors was being considered. Mrs. Trebarh called for total support from all and sundry to develop the country.

Ghana Oil to double out put production

Ghana Oil Output to More Than Double by 2021 With New Fields Africa ’s second-biggest economy, expects oil production to more than double to 250,000 barrels a day by 2021 as output rises at the Jubilee field and other sites start pumping. The country has new crude discoveries at different stages of appraisal and development, Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye, chief executive officer of the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corp. known as GNPC, said in an interview in the capital, Accra, yesterday. At the Tullow Oil Plc-operated Jubilee field, 60 kilometers (37 miles) off Ghana’s western coast, output has averaged 110,000 barrels a day over the last three months, he said.Enlarge image Ghana Oil Output to More Than Double by 2021 With New Fields Oil displaced cocoa as Ghana’s second-most valuable export in 2012, with shipments worth $3 billion, according to the central bank. Photographer: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images In the next “five to eight years we will be spending $20 billion” to develop Jubilee and other discoveries, Asafu-Adjaye said. Jubilee, which started output in December 2010, is Ghana’s lone crude-exporting oil field. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, pumped 1.8 million barrels a day in March. Oil displaced cocoa as Ghana’s second-most valuable export in 2012, with shipments worth $3 billion, according to the central bank. Gold remains the country’s top foreign-currency earner.Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS)  also has a stake in the Jubilee field, while Tullow, Kosmos and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC)  are developing the Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme, or TEN, project. “First oil from TEN could be in late 2016,” Asafu-Adjaye said. The site may have reserves of 245 million barrels and peak daily production is forecast at 76,000 barrels, he said.Onshore Exploring GNPC is also pushing exploration in the onshore Voltaian Basin which stretches from the south to the northern part of Ghana and covers about 40 percent of the country, Asafu-Adjaye said. “We have conducted field mapping and site surveying of selected locations for slim hole drilling,” he said in a speech yesterday. In 2011, GNPC received geophysical data on the region. Tullow’s shares fell 0.9 percent to 1,037 pence in London yesterday, bringing the decline this year to 18 percent. source: bloomberg

Mantrac Ghana ( Caterpillar

Mantrac Ghana, the sole authorized dealer for caterpillar products and services, is stepping up efforts to enhance service delivery in the oil and gas industry. On the sidelines of the Ghana Oil and Gas Summit in Accra, Emad Adeeb, Managing Director, Mantrac Ghana, explained that “in the oil and gas sector productivity goals are challenging as the conditions; so much depends on how well your engines stand up to these challenges, whether you are drilling or transporting products. CAT gas and diesel engines deliver superior performance and efficiency with unparallel reliability.” He said with Ghana’s oil production expected to rise to half a million barrels a day over the next decade, Mantrac is ready to offer a wide range of Customer Support Agreements to ensure the comprehensive maintenance and repair of equipment, periodic field inspections and precise technical recommendations that will keep machines running at maximum productivity. With decades of experience in power solutions for the oil and gas industry, Mantrac Ghana is backed by strong technical expertise and a deep understanding of local markets. “To make it even easier, we provide our customers with Manbiz, our online parts store through this web-based tool, you can check parts pricing and availability at anytime; you can also create quotation, send us a purchase order and we can process your order.” “Our spare parts are easily available throughout our strategically located branches, parts availability exceed 90% with a fast and reliable emergency back-order service,” he remarked. Mantrac Ghana also operates a network of branches in Accra, Kumasi Tarkwa and Takoradi, the hub of Ghana’s oil and gas industry.  A business desk report

Kosmos Water Project

Kosmos Water Project Kosmos Energy working with the government and Safe Water Network have completed work on a $500,000 Modular Ultra Filtration water treatment plant for five communities in the Ellembelle and Jomoro districts of the Western Region. The project will provide a minimum of 100,000 litres of potable water per day for distribution to the communities of Beyin, Ngelekazo, Ekebaku, Nzulezo and Atuabo. Officials of Kosmos Energy Ghana said the second phase of the project would see water delivered to more than 30,000 people, hospitals and educational institutions in other communities. Mr Ken Keag, the Vice President and Country Manager of Kosmos Energy Ghana, said the company’s desire went beyond providing water. He said community collaboration and understanding of the need for the project was key to enhancing the success of the initiative. “It’s a great privilege for Kosmos Energy to work alongside these communities, to support them in developing the skills necessary to own and operate these systems for the long term,” he said. Mr Keag said the construction, which started in November 2012, was a service to communities along the River Amanzuri basin – Beyin and Atuabo, which face significant water challenges. He said in addition to the plant, pipeline extensions were laid to allow easy access to smaller villages such as Ngelekazo and Ekebaku. “A second phase of the initiative which will continue in the latter part of 2013, will also provide clean water to other communities around the River Alehyiale basin,” he said. Mr Kurt Soderlund, the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Water Network, said the organisation was happy to work with Kosmos Energy Ghana to improve the health and livelihoods of communities by building local capacity and capability to own and manage their water systems. “Our partnership includes refining this approach so that it can be broadly replicated throughout Ghana for the millions still without safe water access,” he said. The Paramount Chief of Western Nzema, Awulae Annor Adjaye II and the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr Alfred Ekow Gyan, commended Kosmos Energy and its partners for the initiative and support to the community. They assured the company that the communities would take good care of the facility.

link oil industry to other sectors

Link oil industry to other sectors - * Stakeholders at an Oil and Gas forum held on Tuesday in Accra have called for linkages between the oil and gas industry and other sectors of the economy to trigger equal growth of all the economic sectors. The forum noted that such linkage would help Ghana to avoid the “Dutch Disease” menace that pushed Nigeria to abandon all other sectors of the economy leading to their collapse eventually because of the over reliance on the oil sector. The public forum was organized by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) for various civil society organizations, private sector, state agencies and researchers to discuss the likely economic impact of the oil and gas sector in Ghana. It was on the theme: “Enhancing Stakeholders knowledge on the Economy-wide linkages of Ghana’s Oil and Gas Sector for poverty Reduction”. The Executive Director, ISODEC Bishop Akologo said the forum was to help learn how the oil economy worked and map out possible linkages that politicians and various actors could adopt and implement to ensure a level playing field for all other sectors. According to him, the expectation was that every “player” would understand the linkages and play its parts in the sector to help improve the quality of life of Ghanaians. The Chief Executive officer, Sync Consult, a Management and Financial Services organization, Bennet Kpantey, said the salt industry could for instance be expanded to ensure that Ghana produced enough salt for commercial and industrial use, especially to feed the oil industry, which was among the highest consumer of salt in the world.

Growth on aviation

Ghana discovers more gas

Uk Energy Firm wood Group Wins

UK energy firm Wood Group wins $240m contracts in Ghana, four others * Created on Wednesday, 27 March 2013 19:21 Scottish-based energy company, Wood Group says it has secured 11 new contracts in Africa including Ghana totaling approximately $240 million. The company said March 20, 2013 that the contracts were awarded over the last 12 months to Wood Group PSN, Wood Group GTS and Wood Group Mustang for projects in the five African nations. According to the company, its Wood Group GTS which specialises in rotating equipment solutions, has secured a “long-term service agreement covering two GE Frame 9E gas turbines for an operator in Ghana” but fails to mention the company’s name. The Wood Group PSN won contracts to provide operations & maintenance and construction services to clients in Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Algeria, it said in a statement. It says the Wood Group Mustang is also providing detailed engineering for wellhead platforms, a production processing platform and a living quarters platform for an offshore project in Angola. James Crawford, Wood Group PSN’s managing director for Africa, said “We are committed to building a sustainable business in Africa and are very clear about the countries and projects which we target, knowing where and how our expertise can enhance our customer’s operations.” By Ekow Quandzie, ghanabusinessnews

Bill Gates Talks Ghana

More Us investors in Ghana

More US firms ready to invest in Ghana – Ambassador Cretz Mr Gene A. Cretz, United States Ambassador, says a number of companies in his country are ready to invest in Ghana to facilitate collaborative assistance. He said one of such companies is from Alabama. Mr Cretz made this known during a courtesy call on Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health in Accra. A statement issued by Dan Osman Mwin, Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health (MOH) and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the call was aimed at strengthening the cordial relations between US Embassy and the Ministry. Ms Ayittey called for collaboration to scale down malaria and HIV and AIDS cases in Ghana. She said Ghana needs to draw more lessons from the US especially in the area of family planning, maternal and child health issues. Ms Ayittey acknowledged the support the MOH is getting from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the revision of its procurement process. This, she said would improve the supply chain of drugs in the country. The Minister said Ghana seeks more assistance in training emergency medical technicians, procurement of ambulances and building of trauma and orthopaedic centres. Cheryl L. Anderson, USAID Missions Director in Ghana, and Laurel Fain, USAID Office Director  of Health, Population and Nutrition, who accompanied the Ambassador, recalled the work the Agency have done in the area of  maternal and child health and pledged continuous support to the Ministry.

Us and Ghana decides to tighe the nut

US Ambassador Calls On Energy Minister * Print * Email THE United States Ambassador to Ghana, Gene A. Cretz on Monday called on the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, at his office in Accra. Welcoming the Ambassador, Hon. Buah expressed the government’s appreciation for the US Government’s support to Ghana over the years. He said the country was ready for increased collaboration with the US in the area of energy, stating that Ghana was putting everything in order, in preparation for the second compact of the Millennium Challenge Corporation which is to be invested in the energy sector. He stressed the need for full co-operation among all stakeholders to ensure that the compact agreement was effectively developed and executed for successful projects. Hon. Buah said with the increase in electricity demand, the country had to add about 200MW of power every year for the next 20 years and called for US support. He said there were plans in the short-term to restore normal supply of electricity within the next few weeks, adding that the Takoradi 3 (T3) Thermal Plant, One Unit of Bui Hydro Dam and Sunon-Asogli Power Plant, when the West African gas pipeline is restored, will ensure continuous flow of electricity for Ghana and her West African neighbours. “The country is also looking at alternative sources of energy, for instance, renewable energy, for which a Bill has been passed, as well as waste to energy projects and we need support in these areas”, Hon. Buah said. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing additional resources for energy projects to ensure sustained power supply to the various business ventures in the country. Ambassador Cretz, for his part, said because of the democratic credentials of Ghana, many US companies wanted to invest in Ghana. He said the second compact of the MCC would strengthen the energy sector in order to make Ghana self-sufficient in energy generation and a net exporter of the commodity to her neighbours in the West African sub-region and beyond. Ambassador Cretz congratulated the Minister on his appointment and urged him to effectively engage with all stakeholders in the energy sector to ensure accelerated development. He noted that the relationship between the two countries was excellent and expressed the hope that it would be deepened in future. Present at the meeting were the Chief Director of the Ministry, Professor Thomas Akabzaa and some officials from the US Embassy.

Ghana , Trinidad & Tobago hold talks on energy

Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago hold talks on energy, bilateral cooperation Mr Nyahuma Mentuhotep Obika, Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to Ghana, on Friday called on the Minister for Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. A statement signed by Ras Liberty Amewode, Deputy Head of Communications at the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the two held discussions on bilateral cooperation and energy. Mr Obika said his country would partner the government of Ghana in sharing their wealth of knowledge acquired in the energy sector and the vast experience gained in the production and supply of gas. The Minister in return said such partnership would be based on mutual agreements in the supreme interest of the two countries. “My country is ready to offer scholarships to some Ghanaians to sturdy in Trinidad and Tobago to support the capacity building initiatives of Ghana”. The High Commissioner in the statement said an African Desk is being created to coordinate all activities undertaken by his country in Africa and expressed the hope that the relationship between his country and Africa would increase. It said he congratulated the Minister on his appointment saying “I look forward to working with you to improve the relations between the two countries for the benefit of it citizens”. Mr Buah showed governments gratefulness for the technical assistance provided so far and expressed optimism about the partnership with Trinidad and Tobago for the opportunities. He said Ghana is willing to learn from the success story of Trinidad and Tobago in the gas sector to ensure that the country gets the full benefits of the industry. Source:

UK High Commissioner ,,,Ghana's oil and gas is growing

Ghana’s oil & gas industry is a growing market – UK High eter Jones, British High Commissioner, on Monday described Ghana’s oil and gas industry as a growing market that offers substantial opportunities for UK companies to do business. He has therefore called for deployment of highly developed skills to utilise the country’s gas reserves. “With oil production in Ghana expected to rise to half a million barrels a day over the next decade and significant investment from the Government, exploitation of the country’s considerable gas reserves will require an influx of high-level expertise,” he said. He was speaking at a reception organised by Penwell Corporation and 2H Offshore. Representatives of Penwell Corporation, a business entity, are in the country to participate in a three-day conference and exhibition scheduled to take place from March 19 to March 21. The 17th Annual Offshore West Africa conference is expected to address key technology and development issues for the West African offshore oil and gas market through a comprehensive educational programme. It would be on the theme: “Deepwater Discoveries, Emerging Opportunities.” Mr Jones expressed the hope that the conference and exhibition would provide a unique networking opportunity for attendees to share technology and address issues with experts in their fields. The conference programme includes case studies, local content as well as a showcase of technologies and services from global and regional oil and gas companies. Mr Tom Fowler, Senior Vice President of Penwell Corporation expressed excitement towards the event, saying that Ghana had become the centre to some of the largest offshore projects in the region. He said he was hopeful the event would attract much patronage. Source:

Ghana ,Nigeria Bond is warm too

Ghana, Nigeria Bond is the Warm Abassador Oluseyi with his family in recent times Abassador Oluseyi with his family in recent times ADEMOLA OLUSEYI Onafowokan, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, has said the bond of friendship between Ghana and Nigeria is at its warmest currently. Ambassador Onafowokan was speaking with DAILY GUIDE in Accra during a spotlight interview. The High Commissioner also spoke on trade issues between Nigeria in Ghana. The well traveled diplomat said his wife, Pauline Onafowokan, whom he described as his best friend aside Jesus, is the sweetest woman in the world. Below are excerpts of the interview: *Ghana, Nigeria Trade Matters*Oluseyi Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan *Daily Guide* (*DG*): Is it possible to create a Nigerian market in Ghana, looking at recent trade issues in the country? *Ambassador Oluseyi (AO): *Why not? It’s quite possible. As a matter of fact, when the honourable Minister Hannah Tetteh was the Minister for Trade, she said if Nigerian traders can source for land, they can be guaranteed the permission to run their own market just as the Chinese have done without interfering with the Ghanaian traditional market. *DG*: How strong do you think the bond between Ghana and Nigeria is? *AO*: Bond? Wow that is big! Nigeria and Ghana have had a checkered history. We are families, brothers and sisters, cousins, husbands and wives. We are inter-married. We have fantastic background and economically we trade. In West Africa, Ghana and Nigeria are trade partners. We play football together and we used to play cricket together. The bond between us is unshakable. We might have had small small (problems), not too smooth a relationship but that was long ago. As of now, I believe our relationship is at the warmest. *DG*: What do you have to say to your fellow Nigerians plying their trade and businesses here in Ghana? *AO*: They should be law-abiding. They should respect the law of the land. They should not violate the ECOWAS treaty and I believe if they do that and they conduct themselves well; they do not involve themselves in politics where it does not concern them, I think they will enjoy their stay in Ghana. Ghana is very welcoming, that’s what I have seen so far. ***Advice For The Youth* *DG:* What advise do you have for the youth who aspire to become like you? And what are some of the courses they need to pursue? *AO:* Make sure you get a solid education. I joined the Nigeria Foreign Service with a masters degree because I had made grade one in my ‘O’ level. Have a solid education and be focused. However, you don’t necessarily have to be a diplomat to be successful. There are a lot of other fields that you can be successful but if you want to be a diplomat, a good degree in the arts and social sciences would really put you on your way. ***Career/Family life* *DG:* How interesting is your work? *AO:* My work is very interesting, mentally very tasking. I do a lot of travels but diplomacy is not about wining and dining alone. There are dangers too but the joy I get personally from doing this work is more than the disadvantages. It affects your whole being, your wife, your children, their education, going up and down, selling your properties, coming back. It’s sometimes bedeviling but if you are really committed to it that this is what you will always love to do, I don’t think you should have any problem about that. *DG*: What do you do for leisure and where do you love to hangout? *AO:* I try to play gulf at Achimota when I can find time. At other times, I do go to the restaurant or the Diplomatic Guest House, not too far from here (referring to the Nigerian High Commission) to listen to jazz music and to relax and wine sometimes. And I travel around Ghana quite a lot. *DG:* Which of the Ghanaian dishes do you love to eat? *AO:* I have tried kenkey and banku. *DG:* Oh okay. *AO:* I think banku is too heavy for me. *DG:* What about fufu? *AO:* No, I have not tried fufu. *DG:* Fufu is just like your pounded yam. *AO:* I know, I am not a fun of pounded yam. I like groundnut soup. And the last time I visited the Ashantehene, I was served with some meat, wrapped around very tasty and delicious. I think that’s a good one. *DG:* Who is your best friend? *AO:* Jesus and my wife. *DG: *That sounds good. What is the most expensive gift you ever gave out? *AO:* Probably to my wife. If it is not bought with money, I think I have given her my love but if it is bought with money, I have given out so many gifts I cannot recollect; but there is this porcelain tiger I bought for my wife on a Valentine’s Day like today in 1994 in Havana, Cuba. It’s a big porcelain tiger. I will still have that till tomorrow. *DG:* What is the most expensive thing in your wardrobe? *AO:* Maybe my traditional cloths; they are quite a thing of value. *Fond Childhood Memories* ***DG:* Any found childhood memories? *AO:* Oh yeah, I remember growing up in my native Nigeria and in the primary school, the adventure we used to do in the forest. I mean these are things you can hardly find again back in those areas. And in the secondary school, you know when you play truancy with your friends and you go and hang out in the bush and you won’t go to classes. But generally, I think I had a beautiful upbringing, beautiful exposure from day one. And I’m full of fond memories and expressions of my late brother. *DG:* Tell me about your wife? How did you meet and all that? *AO:* Oh Pauline; she is a sweet woman, best woman in the world. we’ve been friends for 34 years now but married for 31 years. I met her in Port-Harcourt. As a young man, the moment I set my eyes on her, I knew she was the woman I’m destined to marry. Three years after we married and we have two beautiful children, very successful in their own right. And we have three grandchildren. *A Word for Ghana* *DG:* Your final words? *AO:* I want to wish Ghanaians very well. I want Ghanaians to welcome Nigerians just like how we welcome Ghanaians back home. There is no rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana. We are a family. Nigeria will always be there for Ghana because we know that Ghana will always be there for us. We are traditionally bonded even before colonial times and I will be very happy if we remain so. *DG*: Thank you very much. *AO:* Thank you my dear sister. *Biography* Ambassador Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan was born on July 29th, 1955 to the Onafowokan Family in Ikorodu division of Lagos State, Nigeria. He started his elementary education at St John School, Aroloya. Later, he proceeded to Lagos Municipal School and ended his primary education at Emmanuel Primary School, Isonyin in present day Ogun State. He attended the Methodist High School, Ibadan and Christ High School, also in Ibadan, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) Grade 1 in flying colours. At age 20, Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan got his A ‘level in the Polytechnic, Ibadan. Between 1975 and 1979, he was at the University of Benin, for his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. This prepared him for a flourishing career as a diplomat. The seasoned diplomat proceeded to the Prestigious University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Ile Ife for his Masters Degree in International Relations. He completed this successfully in 1981. Armed with all these academic credentials, Ambassador Onafowokan was ready to make an impact in the diplomatic arena. He got admission into Nigeria Foreign Service in 1982. He is an avid scrabble player and golfer. He loves soft fiction and autobiographies. He is multi-lingual and a diplomat par excellence. He is widely travelled, having been to several countries in the world. His marriage to his soul mate Pauline Onafowokan has produced two children and three grandchildren. BY Rocklyn Antonio This entry was published in General News . Bookmark the permalink .← DHL Expands Network in Sub-Saharan Africa Messi Motivates Barca → Leave a Reply

Good Times Ahead

The President, John Dramani Mahama, has assured the nation of good times ahead, despite the difficulties being experienced within some sectors of the economy, which is having a crippling effect on the ordinary citizen.  According to the President, the current difficulties the country is going through must strengthen the collective resolve towards a future of limitless possibilities, arguing that 'despair is not an option, and we shall not make excuses.'  President Mahama made this observation yesterday in Parliament, during his address on the State of the Nation, which was publicised live on state and other private media networks.  Millions of Ghanaians are today experiencing very erratic and frustrating electricity supply. Compounding the situation is unstable power supply and the recent price increase in petrol and other petroleum products.  To the President, the current power outages do not reflect the investments and progress made by the country in the area of electricity generation.  However, despite the difficulties his administration is facing, he was optimistic that the country would in no time overcome those problems.  'Let us build trust - remembering always that civility, humility and discipline are signs of a strong national character. Real change is when everyone pulls together, works together, when we all exercise our responsibilities to country, our local communities and our families,' he noted.  In the midst of a divided Parliament and nation, President Mahama promised to work hard 'to ensure that every household in this country enjoys uninterrupted water and power supply.'  In doing so, he promised to fast track the restoration of the West African Gas Pipeline, planned for completion in April 2013. The repercussions of the incapacitated gas pipeline has brought near total darkness to the country's neighbours, Togo and Benin, and led to the loss of over 250 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity supply to Ghana.  He said in order to get businesses going, the government would install over 500MW of additional generation capacity, which includes 132MW from the Takoradi Thermal Plant Three by the end of February; 130MW from the Bui Hydroelectric  Power Project by end of April.  This will be increased to 400MW by end of September this year. In addition, he said the country was expecting 2MW from a Solar Park at Navrongo by the end of February.  ' With the addition of Takoradi Three this month, and the first power supply from Bui in April, our current deficit of about 200MW at peak, should be sufficiently ameliorated.  'While this will give us comfort from the current unpleasant load shedding, the system will still be fragile, with a slim margin of redundancy. Restoration of the WAGPI, and Asogli coming back on stream, will give us a better margin of comfort,' he noted.  To complement the above-mentioned intervention measures to restore uninterrupted power supply, the President also gave indications that work had started on a 161KV Tumu-Han-Wa transmission line in the Upper West Region, as well as the Kpando-Kadjebi Transmission project, a new 330KV transmission line from Aboadze-Prestea-Kumasi and Tamale-Bolgatanga.  In order to be self-sufficient in power supply, the President assured the nation that he would give his personal attention to the Gas Infrastructure Project, which is steadily progressing, at Atuabo in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.  The project, he noted would be completed by the end of this year, to put the country on track to achieve the planned expansion of 5,000MW capacity of power generation by 2016. To mitigate the effects of the increase in petroleum products on the poor and the vulnerable, President Mahama promised to introduce solar lanterns, expand the life-line threshold on energy for poor households, as well as deepen social protection initiatives to cover them.     Curtailing Gov expenditure  In order to curtail the government's expenditure on fuel, the President said his administration would rationalise the use of government vehicles and fuel in the next few weeks.  'I have given the Chief of Staff appropriate directives on this matter. We will discuss with auto companies a scheme to enable senior public servants to buy on hire purchase their own vehicles, and curtail the reliance on the use of state vehicles,' he noted. Mr. Mahama further noted that his administration had taken stringent measures to curtail MDAs spending beyond their budgetary allocations, and new mechanisms of strict monitoring would be announced by the Minister of Finance in the 2013 budget.  The Ghana Revenue Authority and other agencies, he noted, had been tasked to help raise tax and non-tax revenues to levels that benefit the country's emerging Lower Middle-Income status.  He promised to plug the leakages and raise the country's ratio of revenue to GDP from the current meager 16% to above 20%.     Employment and Labour  To ensure a resilient economy, the President promised to expand opportunities for all, where decent and sustainable jobs leading to meaningful lives would be a top priority.  He said he had directed the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to work with the Ghana Statistical Service to produce quarterly labour surveys to inform policy and planning. These surveys, he noted, will create an accurate database of the unemployed among all categories of the Ghanaian society, and track these on a quarterly basis, as well as ensure that new jobs were accurately recorded and tracked, while making it possible to coordinate the various job-creation and employment initiatives.     Education  To ensure a sound, meaningful and relevant education in the country's quest to build an equitable society, in which the productive capacities of the people are tapped for national development, the President promised to prioritise and expand access to education at all levels, aggressively address quality enhancement and outcomes at all levels, by putting in place measures to monitor quality of educational service delivery, especially, teaching and learning at all levels of the country's educational system, and work to improve gender parity in education.  In addition to the above, President Mahama promised to reward outstanding educational service providers to boost morale in the sector; work towards standardisation and affordability in fees; and encourage community participation in the management of schools.  Read the full text of the President's address on pages 6&7

VOLTA REGION OIL FIND IS REFINED

Volta Region “oil find” almost look refined – Voltaian Basin Voltaian BasinGhana National Petroleum Corporation’s (GNPC) initial assessment of samples of what appears to be crude oil sprouting out from a hand-dug well at Jumbo near Kpassa in the Volta Region, has shown a positive result. The GNPC’s team of experts have expressed surprised about the substance which looked almost refined compared to most unrefined crude oil. Mr Obeng Gyan, a technical director at GNPC told chiefs and people of Jumbo that forensic investigation would be performed to find the veracity or otherwise of the oily substance. He urged the people to avoid contact with the resource because should the test becomes positive, the crude oil could contain harmful chemicals due to its complex mixture of hydrocarbons and petrochemicals that possibly could  affect the brain, lungs, skin and the nervous system. Mr Gyan showed samples of hydrocarbons from other areas, which appear darker in colour than the substance oozing from the Jumbo well. He suggested this could be a special discovery and could occur in a reservoir underground assuring that ensuing investigations would settle the matter. Mr Oti Bless, Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, said the area is hard hit by water scarcity, especially in the dry season resulting into the discovery and a possible good omen if proven positive. Mr Paul Levin Gyato, Nkwnata North District Chief Executive urged his compatriots to tread cautiously as “it is too early to begin to count the gains.” National Security operatives are currently protecting the area. Source: ghanabusinessnews citing GNA

Keta has enough to become an industrial state

Keta to get industrial salt estate for petrochemical industry Government in partnership with Zoomlion Ghana Limited will this year establish an Industrial Salt Estate at Keta in the Volta Region, to produce sufficient volumes of the product to support the petrochemical industry. “The Keta Industrial Salt Estate is going to generate and support the downstream petrochemical and industrial sector,” Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion,  Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the Awoemefia of the Anlo State Togbe Sri III at his residence in Keta. The first phase of the salt project estimated at $191 million is expected to produce about 600,000 metric tonnes annually within the first four years, while the second phase starts in the fifth year with an estimated value of 1.2 million metric tonnes. Dr Agyepong explained that the Region is economically viable and as a result his outfit is highly elated to be associated with the Keta Industrial Salt Estate. He said the recent oil find in the area called for massive salt production to feed the industry, which is expected to start by the end of 2013, adding that “Keta has enough natural resources to be transformed into an industrial hub”. Dr Agyepong expressed gratitude to the Awoemefia for his blessings and pledged that the Board of the project would be structured to give the Anlo State equity. “This project is going to be more localised to ensure that people in the Volta Region derive maximum benefits.” Togbui SrI expressed optimism that the project would open up the area for development. He however expressed concern over the environmental challenges associated with salt mining and cautioned the project managers to ensure that the Keta Industrial Salt Estate becomes a blessing and not a curse. “My plea is that you will be extremely vigilant so that your good ideas may not cause any hazards in my town,” he said. The MP for the area Mr Richard Quashigah expressed confidence in the project, explaining that it would improve the employment opportunities in the area. According to the Project Co-ordinator, Selasie Tamakloe the aqua-culture zones spanning 29 communities with about 6,000 acres include communities such as Tregui, Adzato, Klomikpota, Kpordui, Agortoe, Agorvinu, and Atasiavi. The more than 40 salt mining communities with an area size of 25,000 acres include Seva, Anyako, Aveli, Atiavi Glime, Aboilorve, Tsiame and Anlo-Afiadenyigba. Mr Tamakloe said salt could be converted into caustic soda for aluminum production and gave the assurance that all risk assessments have been carried out and therefore the project will not affect the livelihood of the people. The Municipal Chief Executive, Sylvester Tornyeava lauded the project and appealed for more local content. Source: GNA

And the best is yet to come ,,,

The risk factor associated with oil exploration in Ghana is getting lesser by the day, thanks to the announcement of more oil discoveries in the country in recent times. A total of 19 oil discoveries have been made since 2007 with the latest successful appraisal announcement by the Italian oil firm Eni being a booster. The Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Energy, Edward Bawa, told The Business Analyst in an interview on Monday that the increasing number of oil discoveries in the country means that the risk factors in exploring oil in the country is getting lower and the advantage being that “We can now strengthen our negotiation value as a nation. It affords us the opportunity to negotiate better terms,” he stated. The country’s stake-holding in blocks currently hovers around 10% to 15% but Mr. Bawa said now the country can increase that to 20% when negotiating new terms. He said the new discoveries also means government’s assets as well as its revenue sources are increasing. “Anytime a new discovery is announced, government’s potential source of revenue increases. This obviously will catapult our move from lower middle income to upper middle income,” Bawa emphasized. Last weekend, Eni, announced its successfully appraisal of the Sankofa East discovery offshore Ghana. The company estimates the overall potential of the discovery to be around 450 million barrels of oil in place with recoverable resources of up to 150 million barrels. Eni successfully drilled Sankofa East 2A, the first appraisal well of the Sankofa East supervises the bringing on-stream oil discovery in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) block, located in the Tano Basin offshore Ghana, around 50 kilometers off the coast. “The result is important because it confirms the commercial standing of the oil discovery in the OTCP block and the strategic importance of the block for further industrial and economic development in the country,” a release from the company stated. It said Sankofa East 2A has been drilled 8 kilometers south west of the discovery well Sankofa East X1 and confirmed the extension of the oil accumulation in the Cenomanian sequence. The data acquisition confirmed the hydraulic communication in the oil prone reservoir between the discovery and the appraisal well. Sankofa East 2A well, which reached a total depth of 4,050 meters, was drilled in 990 meters of water. The well encountered 23 meters of gas and condensate gross pay (17 meters net), and 76 meters of gross oil pay (30° API, 32 meters net) in good sands of cretaceous age. Eni has immediately commenced plans for the commercial exploitation of the oil reserves. There are also ongoing engineering studies for the development and commercialization of the gas reserves of the block in accordance with the principles sanctioned in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed by Eni, Vitol and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) with the Ministry of Energy of Ghana. The MoU focuses particularly on the domestic gas market, in which Eni and its joint venture partners aim to play a prominent role. Eni estimates overall recoverable resources in the OCTP block of approximately 450 million barrels of oil equivalent including gas, associated liquids and oil. Eni, through its subsidiary Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited, is the operator of the OCTP block with a 47.222% share. Other partners are Vitol Upstream Ghana Limited, with a 37.778% share, and state company GNPC with a 15% share. GNPC has an option for an additional 5% share. Eni has been operating in Ghana since 2009 and currently operates two exploration offshore blocks OCTP and Keta. Eni has been present in Sub Saharan Africa since the 1960s and currently participates in exploration and production projects in Angola, Congo, Ghana, Gabon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Kenya and Liberia. With rapid successful growth in exploration activity, Eni’s current operated production in the region is approximately 450,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Source:  energymin.gov.gh citing The Business Analyst, Wednesday 23rd January, 2013.

Own Great minds ,,,,,

Britain Prepared To Promote British Investments In Ghana By Edmund MingleMark Simmonds, British Minister for AfricaMark Simmonds, British Minister for AfricaRelated Stories The British government has expressed its preparedness to promote Private British investments in Ghana, saying it finds the Ghanaian investment atmosphere very conducive.  Mark Simmonds, British Minister for Africa, who conveyed the commitment of the British government during a meeting with Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur at the Flag Staff House in Accra yesterday, said “Britain continues to admire Ghana’s rapid economic and democratic progress”.&nbs; Britain, he said, was happy to be associated with Ghana, and gave the assurance that the British government was committed to in facilitating more of British private sector investments into Ghana.  Mr. Simmonds, who led the British government’s delegation for President Mahama’s inauguration on Monday, praised Ghana for the peaceful elections, and commended the country for the efforts in enhancing the welfare of the citizenry.  He promised Britain’s help in building on the socio-economic gains made in the country, and expressed optimism that increase in investments from the UK would support in job creation efforts.  Among other things, the British Minister who was in Ghana a couple of months ago during his tour of West Africa, was happy about the strong ties between the two nations, and prayed for more dividends from the bilateral relations.  Vice President Amissah-Arthur, responding, also lauded the excellent relations between the two countries, and noted that Ghana remains committed in collaborating with the UK and other nations in addressing common development challenges.&nbsp He expressed appreciation o Britain for the continuous assistance towards the development of the various sectors of the economy, saying “we remain appreciative.”