CDD to translate petroleum law into local dialects

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), a civil society organisation with interest in governance, has embarked on a project to simplify information on the Petroleum Regulation Legislative Instrument (LI) 2204 on the local content and participation law.

As part of the project CDD is to translate the LI into local languages to enhance information flow in the oil and gas industry and promote good governance in the sector. This would enable Ghanaians to know their rights and responsibilities in order to demand accountability from the authorities put in charge of the petroleum sector.

Mr Mohammed Awal, Research Officer at the CDD, who made this known at a workshop on oil and gas at Ayinase in the Western Region, said the printed version of the local languages on the Petroleum law would be available in the next seven months.

The programme, organised by the United Civil Society Organisation of Nzema District (UCSOND) in collaboration with STAR Ghana, a multi-donor pooled organisation sought to build the capacity of Gas Watch members in the area. Mr Awal said no one could be a good advocate in the petroleum sector without knowing the laws governing the industry.

Mr Michael Nyarku, Project Officer of UCSOND, said most Ghanaians lack information on the petroleum industry, hence the translation of the petroleum law into local dialects.

The workshop was on the theme: “Enhancing information sharing among Key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry and ensuring efficient monitoring of the gas project within the three Nzema districts.”

The participants appealed to the government to introduce oil and gas subject at the junior high schools to enhance the knowledge base of students in order to take charge of the petroleum sector in future.