Traditional Authorities in the New Juabeng Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, have called on residents in the Eastern Region to embrace efforts by the National Petroleum Authority, NPA, regulator of the downstream petroleum sector, to implement the Cylinder Recirculation Model, which is to partly address safety in the discharge of gas products and create jobs.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Koforidua, Nana Twumasi Dankwa, Gyeasehene of traditional area, said the policy has come at a time when industry experts continue to explore ways of improving safety in the petroleum sector.
“It’s a policy that will not only create jobs but improve our safety and I encourage all of us to give the NPA their maximum support in this area,” he said.
The stakeholder engagement is an ongoing exercise by the NPA, to galvanize public support for the policy, educate consumers on the policy and also seek their views which are to be incorporated into a final draft document, before the final rollout.
The NPA intends carrying out the pilot of the program in Kade and Denkyembor, all in the Eastern Region.
Nana Twumasi Dankwa advised the NPA to broaden the consultation to the community levels, so it can dispel claims being made by persons who are not ready to embrace the good of the policy.
Chief Executive of the NPA, Hassan Tampuli, said the NPA will continue to engage with the public on the policy, since a peoples friendly policy is what his outfit is determined to rollout.
“Every region we go to new idea emerges and we believe here in the eastern region something new will come up.
Again, Mr. Tampuli used the opportunity to dispel claims the policy will lead to job losses. According to him, there is no truth in that and challenge anyone with counter argument, to come forward and discuss it with his outfit.
Mr. Tampuli said gas explosions have disfigured people who are living with unfortunate effect. He said the deaths have been one too many and it is therefore important the situation is addressed, once and for all.
Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfour, who is also the MP for Nkwakwa, appealed to participants to accept the policy, since it will help improve their health and safety.
He said it is not the intention of government to deploy a policy that will collapse jobs, and urged his constituents to give support to the energy policy.
Chief Executive of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Kwaku Agyeman Duah, said his outfit is in “full support” of the policy.
The program was attended by chiefs, market women, wives from the security agencies like Policy, Fire Service and Association of Moslem leaders.
Source: Ghana|Starrfm.com.gh|103.5FM
