PETROLEUM COMMISSION HOLDS ANNUAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS WORKSHOP IN ELLEMBELLE DISTRICT

A two-day community relations workshop has been held in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region at the Yinson Hall in Nkroful by the Petroleum Commission for the six (6) coastal MMDA’s namely, STMA, Ahanta West Municipal, Nzema East Municipal, Jomoro Municipal, Shama and Ellembelle District Assemblies on the theme “Managing Community Expectations of the Oil and Gas Industry”.

The workshop brought together MMDCE’s, Metropolitan & Municipal District Co-ordinating Directors, Planning Officers, Social Welfare & Community Development Officers, Traditional Leaders, Community Fishing Leaders among other stakeholders to the programme.

The annual community relations workshop sought to figure out problems faced by the six coastal communities and find lasting solutions to them.

Participants were grouped into four and given various tasks to undertake which was later discussed and possible solutions suggested by all participants.

The Mayor for Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Hon. K. K. Sam in a closing address thanked all participants for sitting in till the end of the programme. He expressed the hope that all the suggestions would be enforced by the Commission.

He implored on the Petroleum Commission to ensure that oil companies do their bid to better the lives of the inhabitants in the communities and Districts of their operations.

He added that, firm measures must be put in place by the Commission to ensure that best practices are adhered to in order not to pose health hazards to Ghanaians.

Hon. Sam reiterated the need for oil companies to collaborate closely with communities so that in honouring their Corporate Social Responsibility, things needed by the communities would be the things they give for the real impact to be felt.

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