Dr. Ben Asante
The Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) has endorsed the appointment of Dr. Ben Asante as the caretaker Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas by President Akufo-Addo.
CSPOG’s endorsement of Dr. Asante’s appointment is contrary to reservations expressed by a section of the public about his choice as the caretaker CEO.
It would be recalled that a group from the Western Region calling itself the Nzema Youth Association issued a statement to oppose the appointment of Dr. Asante.
The group had alleged in the statement that Dr Asante’s advice to the previous NDC government led to the relocation of the Ghana Gas Processing facility from Jomoro to Ellembelle, a decision that the Nzemas in the Jomoro area blamed for the lost of a unique economic opportunity.
But CSPOG, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Steve Manteaw, said the group’s opposition to Dr. Asante’s appointment is without “factual and objective basis,” adding that the allegations are “clearly at variance with the facts as CSPOG has come to know them.”
According to CSPOG, “Dr. Ben Asante is the best choice” but urged him to work with government to address hostile ethnic sentiments.
“Indeed, the President couldn’t have made a better choice, as Dr Asante has over the past few years proven that he has what it takes to manage the state entity.”
“Besides his impeccable academic and professional achievements both locally and internationally, Dr Asante, by virtue of his association with the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Project as a consultant to Ghana Gas, and subsequently as an advisor on gas matters to the Minister of Petroleum, is very familiar with the company he is now assuming responsibility for.”
A statement from Ghana Gas recently stated that the Board of the Company had approved a request from Dr. George Sipa-Adjah Yankey to “proceed on terminal leave, effective February 1, 2017, and terminating in May 2017,” paving way for the appointment of renowned engineer, Dr. Asante.
Dr Ben Asante has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
He was the technical director of Ghana’s first Gas Infrastructure project and also developed the gas infrastructure master plan for Ghana in 2008.
He has also served as a consultant to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and provided engineering services, project management and technical support for various projects across the world, including UAE, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia, Thailand and USA.
He has worked for major companies, including Nova/TransCanada and Enron and Jacobs Engineering.
By Melvin Tarlue