Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, aka Napo, has inaugurated the newly-constituted Governing Board of the Ghana National Gas Company.
At a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Energy in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Prempeh charged the new board chaired by Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to tackle the operational challenges of the company in earnest.
He said, “your nomination is indicative of His Excellency President Akufo Addo’s confidence in your individual and collective abilities to steer the affairs of one of the key state-owned companies in Ghana’s energy sector. You are by this appointment expected to provide direction and leadership in the day-to-day running of the nation’s premiere mid-stream gas business company.”
The minister reiterated his approach of discouraging intra-energy sector debts, where he said indebtedness was affecting the seamless operations of companies in the sector and charged the board to ensure that all debts owed by the company are paid regularly.
“I am aware that in times past one of the major challenges Ghana Gas has faced is VRA’s indebtedness to it; payments for the gas supplied them in their operations were quite irregular. As you take over the helm of affairs, I urge you to be keen in ensuring that debts owed by the company are paid regularly,” he stated.
He added that, “as sector minister, one of my priorities is to rid the sector of avoidable debts, especially ones I call intra-energy sector debts. This will ensure liquidity of companies in the carrying out of their operations as well as other financial obligations.”
On technical issues, the minister charged the board to be keen on quality assurance which he said if sustained will be critical to the development of the bourgeoning gas industry.
He further asked the board to be sensitive to the community needs of people affected by the company’s projects to ensure peaceful co-existence between the company and host communities.
The nine-member board include; Dr. Ben KD Asante, MD of the Ghana Gas, R. John Darko, Mrs. Adelaide Mary Benneh, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, Abraham Ossei Aidoo, Delphine Dogbegah, Nana Owusu Ansah Ababio and Stephen Sumani Nayina.
The Ghana National Gas Company was established in July 2011 as a limited liability company with the responsibility to build, own and operate natural gas infrastructure required for gathering, processing, transportation and marketing.
By Melvin Tarlue