CSOs need to monitor upstream petroleum chamber activities – IES

News from Sunday, February 3, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-02-03

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has urged civil society groups to closely monitor the activities of the upstream new petroleum chamber, Upstream.

The formation of the chamber aims to promote upstream oil and gas exploration in the country.

Tullow Oil Ghana, Kosmos Energy Ghana and Eni Ghana are among the companies included in the room.

In an interview with Citi Business News, research badyst at the IES, Mikdad Mohammed said the IES, along with other stakeholders, would ensure that the chamber fulfills its mandate.

"The only thing we can guarantee them is that we will be watching the debate closely, because we have already witnessed in the past such groups mobilized to defend ideas that are not in the interest of the nation, but have private for-profit, "he noted.

He stressed the need for the chamber to give back to Ghanaians so that ordinary citizens benefit from oil resources.

"We expect that such a group will continue to support the growth of corporate social responsibility, environmental protection, because we have seen some by-products of exploration work in Keta and in from other areas, like Takoradi.

He added, "We will want to see them do more in this type of projects that promote the safety of the natives in the oil-producing areas and also that, when it comes to collective bargaining, all that will come out will be in the region. interest of the country ".