Oil And Gas Summit Opens In Accra

Stakeholders in the energy sector have been urged to develop strategies to solve the energy challenges confronting the country. Energy issues, according to the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, are critical to the survival of every nation, so a collective attempt to solve them would promote the country�s development. He also indicated that though many achievements had been chalked up in the sector, more should be done to develop the country. The minister said this in a statement delivered on his behalf at the opening of the Fifth Ghana Oil and Gas Summit and exhibition in Accra on Tuesday. According to him, the government, in its quest to equip the sector for development, had put in place legislation and policies that would enable the sector to thrive. Summit and exhibition The three-day oil and gas summit, hosted by the CWC Group Ltd with support from the President of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama, and the Ministry of Energy was meant to provide a platform that would bring international and regional stakeholders together to deliberate on opportunities and upcoming projects in the country. The summit has the theme, �Promoting New Investment Opportunities,� and is expected to bring key decision makers, contractors, service providers and distributors, and local partners in the oil and gas sector together to discuss the future of the energy sector in Ghana. This year�s summit will focus on local content and opportunities available to indigenous Ghanaian companies in the oil and gas sector, following the recent enactment of the Local Content Bill. Fifty-two participating companies showcased their latest products, services and innovative solutions in the energy sector. Win-win situation Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Mr Kwabena Donkor, said the oil and gas sector in Africa had been associated with disappointment over the years but Ghana could set an example in the sector to create a win-win situation for its citizens and investors. According to him, the sector presents a major opportunity for this country to set a new pattern for Uc africa�s development. �With goodwill from international partners, Ghana could create a paradigm that will put Ghanaians at the centre of policy and create a win-win situation for both investors and citizens,� he added.