Guyana Committed To Building Stronger Links With Ghana - Vice President

Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, has stated that his country is committed to building stronger ties with Ghana especially in the hydrocarbon sector, for the mutual benefit of the two peoples of Ghana and Guyana.

Speaking at the networking and cocktail reception at the end of a two-day Ghana-Guyana Local Content and Capacity Building Conference organized by Ghana Chamber of Commerce Guyana and held at the Marriott hotel, Georgetown, Guyana, Vice President Jagdeo said the government of Guyana fully supports every effort aimed at strengthening business relations with Ghana.

“We support any activity that will forge stronger links between our two countries [Ghana and Guyana] and also bring technical expertise and capital to our fledging private sector in this industry [oil and gas].

“We are very supportive of this venture [Ghana-Guyana Local Content and Capacity Building Conference] and we thank the organizers for putting it together’” the Guyanese Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said.

“I thought I should make myself available so that should you have any lingering doubt about any of our [Guyana’s] policies, [I can bring clarity to it]” he added.

Panel Discussions
The two -day conference first looked at the topic, “Promoting Local Workforce Development”. Panelists discuss strategies for collaboration with local educational institutions, attracting and retaining local talent, and supporting vocational training programs.

Nana Adjoa Hackman, Managing Partner Africa Legal Associates (ALA), moderated the session and the Panelist were; Dr. Martin Pertab, Head of the Local Content Secretariat Guyana, Egbert Faibille Jnr, CEO Petroleum Commission, Dr. Suresh Narine, Director CGX and Dr. Kofi Abban, CEO Rigworld Group.

“Maximizing Local Content Participation,” was another topic that was discussed. Panelists deliberated on policies, regulations, and supplier development programs to enhance local content participation in the supply chain.

Moderated by Mrs. Beatrice Mensah Tayui, CEO Cybele Energy Inc, the Panelists comprised Mr. Bobby Gossai Jnr, Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Mrs Abbigale Loncke Watson, CEO MBW Guyana, Kweku Boateng, Director Local Content and Stanley Raja Ahorlu, Managing Director, PMD.

“Collaboration between Government, Industry, and Local Communities,” was another subject that came up for discussion. The panelists discuss the role of government policies, regulations, and partnerships in fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders and local communities.

Mr. Alex Graham, CEO of Tagman Media and Host of Energy Perspectives, moderated the sitting. The panelists included Mr. Bobby Gossai Jnr, Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Dr Suresh Narine, Director, CGX and O-A Danquah, C.E.O Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The GCCG
The Ghana Chamber of Commerce Guyana was commissioned on Monday, 22nd May, 2023 in Queenstown, in the heart of Georgetown, Guyana, by Ghana’s Trade & Industry Minister, Kobina Tahir Hammond, MP, assisted by Guyana’s Minister for Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, MP.

The Ghana Chamber of Commerce has a primary mission of promoting trade, investment, human resource engagement, and economic cooperation between Ghana and the Caribbean, with Guyana being the focal hub.

A fundamental principle of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce is for the members to be deliberate in working in Guyana to build local capacity. The Chamber encourages joint ventures and other ways which ensure that Ghanaian entities operating in Guyana work in partnership with Guyanese companies.

This is to ensure that, at least, Ghanaian companies come to Guyana with value, to create value and share value with their Guyanese partners in a win–win arrangement.

The Chamber counts scores of major Ghanaian and international companies on its books in various areas, including Fintec, Finance, Oil & Gas, Mining, Power, Real Estate Development, Construction, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Waste Management, and Commodities Trading.

It specializes in linking contractors with funding and opportunities. With the ability to arrange very competitive funding, including ECA facilities, through its strategic partnership with ALA Strategic Consult and clients, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Guyana, connects capital to opportunities.

The Chamber aims to help Guyanese companies build international partnerships with expertise and funding to help deliver on projects in Guyana.

Being the first and only Africa-focused Chamber of Commerce in the Caribbean, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Guyana, offers support to businesses from Africa, working in Guyana or seeking opportunities in Guyana.

GCCG also provides information on opportunities, offers advice on regulatory matters, market intelligence, and industry outlook, as well as organises workshops and training on industry knowledge and exchange programmes for skills transfer.

By Wilberforce Asare