A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Dr. Amos Ofori Quaah, has launched a book on the discovery of oil in Ghana including aspects of his lifetime experience, titled ‘My Footprints in Ghana’s Black Gold’.
The book, as its title depicts, traces Dr. Ofori Quaah’s personal involvement in the longest phase of petroleum exploration in Ghana – a journey that took over a century, beginning with the first onshore well in 1896.
The 17-chapter book comprises his biography – dispelling some myths about oil, what it took to make Ghana a petroleum producing country, interesting travel experiences and ends with events that led to his resignation from the GNPC.
Outlining some aspects of the book, Dr. Ofori Quaah noted there is a very interesting chapter whereby prospective readers can decipher what he called ‘the Ambush at Kibi’ that nearly destroyed Ghana’s financial institutions and some state institutions.
“A really hairy situation involved one of the corporation’s many creditors: a threat that could have potentially crippled half of Ghana’s financial institutions, the Ghana Civil Aviation and GNPC’s rigs around the world. You will also learn who was involved in the ambush,” he noted.
Dr. Ofori Quaah, speaking to the B&FT after the launch of his book, explained the rationale behind the write up.
“There were some myths about oil in Ghana, and I wanted to dispel those myths. Also, those young people who did not enjoy the touch of their fathers in the early years of their lives because they had been sent away, I wanted to write for the sake of those.
“Our friends who passed away before our efforts yielded fruit in terms of discovery, for the sake of those people I thought that something must be written for posterity; and also what we had to go through to find the oil; the problems, the efforts and dedication of the professionals. We thought that we had to write it down for generations of Ghanaians to realise what we went through to make oil possible for Ghana,” he emphasised.
In attendance at the book launch were high-profile dignitaries such as Kwame Pianim, a renowned economist and politician; Prof. Addae-Mensah, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana; Theophilus Ahwireng, Managing Director of MODEC Production Services Ghana (MPSG) JV Ltd; and several former staff of GNPC among others.
Copies of the book can be found on Amazon, EPP books, Kingdom books and stationery and Baatsona Total.
