By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) operational headquarters christened “GNPC Energy House” in Takoradi.
The facility, is in fulfillment of the President’s promise he made during the 2016 election campaign. Four years ago, a sod cutting ceremony was held and within four years, the facility has been completed to improve operational efficiency.
The seven storey, situated on a 11680m2 land area, has a 300-seater auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium, business center as well as private offices space for lease to prospective companies and other businesses. It is designed with solar ingress and wind direction in compliance with government’s policy of ensuring smart energy efficiency.
According to the President Akufo-Addo, the facility, is to create a beneficial oil and gas industry for the local economy in the Western Region.
The location of the project, he said aims at bringing the operations, closer to the heart of the petroleum industry, thereby enhancing efficiency and fostering closer collaboration with domestic stakeholders.
He noted that it will increase economic activities and stimulates domestic businesses from hospitality to retailing. The initiative, is a clear indication of the government’s quest to strengthening GNPC’s capacity to manage and develop the country’s petroleum resources effectively.
“The GNPC Energy House remain as an epicentre, that will enhance activities in the sector, create direct and indirect opportunities and avenues to increase the economic lives of the people in the region and the country at large” the President added.
He urged those in the oil and gas sector, to implement best practices and encouraged GNPC to build the capacity of businesses in ensuring that the locals, benefit from the opportunity in the sector.
“Your region, is the largest recipient of GNPC’s community project in the country”, he pointed out.
He praised the Western Regional Minister, the chiefs and people for the respective roles they played in ensuring the completion of the state-of-the-art project.
Herbert Krapa, the Minister of State at the Energy Ministry noted that there has been sturdy increase in oil production. “Various Wells such as Jubilee, TEN, Sankofa among others are doing well with exploration and extraction”.
He said the ministry, has resolved to work hard with stakeholders to ensure that oil production grows from strength to strength. “Ghana’s petroleum sector, is better-off because of President Akufo-Addo”.
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister praised the government and the President for keeping to his promise.
He said the region, is benefitting from three key pillars in terms of education, health and infrastructure.
“Currently, the region is benefitting from 2000-kilometer road projects, there’s been increase in enrollment from13,000 to 65,000 in free Senior High School and hospital redeveloped and construction of other projects. This, is a testament to your love for the region”.
Freddie Blay, Board Chairman of GNPC also thanked the chiefs and people in the region for the trust, reposed in the President.
