The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has launched its national stakeholder engagement on the Voltaian Basin Project (VBP), ahead of commencing preliminary seismic work in the basin.

A statement by GNPC and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said Mr Ebenezer Apesegah, Manager- Geology, and member of the VBP team has already briefed participants on the scope of the project, processes involved and potential impact as well as mitigation options available to address them.

Mr Alex K. M. Mould, Acting Chief Executive of GNPC, said the present mission of the Corporation was to identify the existence of a petroleum system in the area.

He said the project had the potential of defining GNPC as operator in the future.

“We cannot do this alone,” Mr. Mould stressed, emphasizing the importance of the stakeholders role in the project.

He said GNPC would engage stakeholders in the forefront districts of the project, from June, ahead of the preliminary seismic work in the basin.

He expressed the hope that the participants, drawn from Ministries and state organisations, were going to contribute and assist GNPC identify all issues worth considering in undertaking the all-important national project.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, called for collaboration and co-operation among all stakeholders.

Mr Daniel Amlalo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency advised prospective applicants for permit to submit their work on time.

Mr John Agyei Duodu, Director of the Geological Survey Department commended GNPC for the forum and urged stakeholders to accept the project as a national one for collective support.

Mr Thomas Manu, Director of Operations GNPC, expressed appreciation for participation in the programme, and gave the assurance of continued consultation and collaboration with all.

The Volta Basin is a huge onshore basin that stretches from the Volta Region to parts of the Northern Region, with a total land area of 103,600 square kilometres.