Ghana Gas proposes Gas Act to regulate sector

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Dr Ben Asante, has called for enactment of Ghana Gas Act to provide the legal impetus for the running of the gas industry.

According to him, the dangers of not having an Act governing the industry is that a change of government can either improve or erode all the positive achievements the industry has made so far.

“A Gas Act is a legislative instrument that will provide the necessary legal impetus to run the gas industry.

“When you have an act that protects you, whether in terms of pricing, whether in terms of your operations, I think that would give some stability…” he said.

Dr Asante was speaking at the State of the Agency Report, a weekly media briefings put together by the Ministry of Information in conjunction with the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA).

Speaking specifically about his outfit, Dr Asante said a lot has been achieved since 2017 and that there was the need for an act to protect those investments and gains made. He said one of such achievements is the indigenization of the company’s activities.

The CEO, Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Dr Ben Asante and his entourage in a group photograph with the Deputy Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar

According to Dr Asante, Ghana Gas has, since 2017, been saving $3m monthly due to the use of only local engineers in its operations.

Without this policy, he argued, these monies would have gone into the pockets of Chinese expatriates who were operating the machines since Ghanaian engineers did not have the technical skills to operate such machines.

But the company took steps to train local engineers and in just three years, they were able to handle the machines and helped the government to save millions.

“Indigenous Ghanaian Engineers/Technicians took over the plant operations completely from the Chinese in March 2017,” Dr Asante said.

He drew his audience’s attention to the wonderful thing about the Ghanaian story, which is the fact that they used only three years to indigenize when countries like Trinidad and Nigeria took 40 and 50 years respectively to fully indigenize.

Dr Asante also spoke about how his outfit had transformed the communities in its catchment areas.

“Through our comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility, the company has achieved noteworthy feats in the areas of healthcare. We have registered over 1,350 locals between Atuabo and Aboadze under the National Insurance Scheme; and will double it this year,” he said.

He also said the company has constructed an 8-Seater Water Closet toilet facility, and a Mechanized Borehole at Allabokazo as well as the construction of a 4-unit Teachers’ Quarters at Anokye, a 4-unit Teachers Quarters at  Asanda Suazo, and an ultra-modern nursery facility in the same area.

“Additionally, we have supported the Nzulezo Development Committee to rehabilitate their Community School building,” Dr Asante said.

On roads, the CEO said the company has completed the 10.5km Asphalt road from Alla-Bokazo to Anokye and is working on Nkroful road as well.

“Similar road projects are either finished or ongoing in Axim, Half Assini and Kikam,” he added.