Ghana's Petroleum Regulators Launch Joint Plan to Build Stronger Oversight

The Petroleum Commission of The Gambia and the Petroleum Commission of Ghana have agreed to strengthen the ability of their regulators to manage oil and gas activities through staff training, technical exchanges and joint oversight programmes.

The agreement, signed in Banjul on July 10 during a three-day visit by a Ghanaian delegation, aims to improve regulation of the upstream petroleum sector so oil resources can deliver lasting benefits through stronger institutions, better compliance and improved technical capacity.

The partnership places institution building at the centre of petroleum management as African oil-producing and frontier countries seek to improve governance, attract investment and respond to changes in the global energy industry.

Rather than focusing only on oil discoveries, the two regulators agreed that capable institutions, skilled personnel and effective regulation will determine whether petroleum wealth benefits citizens over the long term.

Capacity building takes centre stage

The memorandum of understanding creates a framework for cooperation in upstream petroleum regulation, local content, petroleum data management, legal and regulatory systems, compliance monitoring and enforcement.

It also provides practical measures to strengthen both institutions through staff exchanges, training, study visits, internships, secondments, technical assistance and joint programmes. The arrangement is intended to help both commissions improve technical knowledge and regulatory performance by learning from one another.

During technical meetings, both sides shared experience on regulatory governance, institutional growth, upstream licensing, licence management, local content implementation, public procurement, institutional financing, stakeholder engagement, human resource management and cooperation with Parliament and other oversight bodies.

Director General of The Gambia's Petroleum Commission, Engr. Cany Jobe, said petroleum resources can only deliver lasting value when strong institutions guide their management.

She said, "A country may discover petroleum, but without capable institutions, clear rules, technical discipline, public trust and responsible oversight, the opportunity can easily be weakened."

Jobe noted that petroleum discoveries depend on geology, science and investment, but strong institutions determine whether those discoveries become sustainable national benefits. She pointed to Ghana's experience as an important source of practical lessons for frontier petroleum countries such as The Gambia.

Ghana began commercial oil production in 2010 and now produces crude oil from the Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa-Gye Nyame fields, giving it years of regulatory experience that The Gambia hopes to learn from.

Joint committee to drive implementation

The agreement also establishes a Joint Steering and Oversight Committee that will supervise implementation, prepare annual work programmes and coordinate technical cooperation through specialised sub-committees.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, said the signing marked the beginning of practical work rather than the end of discussions.

She said African petroleum-producing and frontier countries face similar challenges, including stronger competition for investment and changes linked to the global energy transition. She noted that closer cooperation between African regulators would allow institutions to share knowledge and strengthen technical capacity.

Hardcastle said, "Our most important task begins: turning the commitments in our MoU into meaningful, on-the-ground results."

The Ghanaian delegation also paid courtesy visits to The Gambia's Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Nani Juwara, and the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation.

The minister reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between Ghana and The Gambia and expressed his government's commitment to stronger cooperation between their petroleum institutions. He also conveyed his greetings to Ghana's Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Abdoulie Jallow, represented the minister during the visit. He pledged the ministry's full support for the partnership and said African countries can speed up national progress by learning from one another.