Progress In Oil Discovery Up North2 min read

Ghana’s oil and gas industry has made positive gains which could result in the discovery of oil onshore in some parts of the Northern and Savannah regions.

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is exploring the prospects of hydrocarbons in Ghana’s onshore sedimentary basin (VBP) in about 460 communities in 13 MMDAs; 10 of which are in the Northern Region with three others located in the Savanna region.

Chief Executive Officer GNPC, Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah, during a tour of some of the sites in the Northern and Savannah regions indicated that the Voltaian Basin Project is a game changer for the country.

“This is a project done mostly by Ghanaians as you can see for Ghanaians and the ultimate is to find oil,” he said.

According to him, it is expected that wells will be drilled by early next year at the various sites in the regions.

Mr.  Danquah was of the view that the project can potentially change the landscape of the regions as well as boosting the economic activities.

He called on the people of the northern part of Ghana to support GNPC and the Ministry of Energy to ensure that the project succeeds.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Herbert Krampah, who was part of the tour expressed his excitement about the project noting that it has the potential of changing the fortunes of the people up North and the country at large.

“We have seen what the offshore discoveries have done to the Ghanaian economy, the growth that we see every year significantly because of oil and if we found oil onshore I think government would have choked a big milestone and that is why President Akufo-Addo is very committed to this project.”

Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the King of Dagbon , Ndan Ya Na Abukari II at his Gbewa palace in Yendi.

They also called on the Regent of Mion, Gushegu Naa, Yoo Naa, and the Sagnarigu Naa to seek for their support for the success of the project.

The King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya Na Abukari II commended GNPC and the Energy Ministry for the Voltaian Basin Project describing it as the hope for Northern Ghana.

The Ya Na, however appealed to the contractors to ensure that the youth of Dagbon are employed at the various project sites to enable them work to earn a living to cater for their families.

The Deputy Party Chief of BGP-BAY, in charge of the Voltaian Basin Project, Frank Gkou Arkoful, revealed that the project has created 200 direct and indirect jobs for the people of the northern sector so far.