Mr. Gameli Kumasi, the Project Coordinator , Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) has noted that local companies are not competitive enough in winning contracts with the International Oil Companies (OICs).

According to him, the local companies should adopt the right procedures in bidding processes -- most of them do not have access to information such as registration of their businesses, basic skills in spread sheet ‘excel’ among others.

“If the right approach is adopted by the local companies, they will be able to win contracts from the IOCs and also help local content to be practicable,” he added.

Mr. Kumasi said this at an introductory media soiree in Takoradi to announce that the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has been tasked to turn around the image and core activities of EDC.

He explained that the contract is for an initial period of six month from October 2015 -- the contract is subject to renewal upon performance.

“Since we took over last month, we have already conducted two training workshops for some of our Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) -- today we had over 80 SMEs participating in a forum called ‘closing the gap’, for them to interact with a team from Tullow Ghana”.

He pointed out that GIMPA is determined to apply a ‘hand-holding’ practical approach in its training modules -- “By the time we exit from this assignment, Ghanaian SMEs will have minimal or no capacity inhibitions whatsoever to participating in supply chain bidding processes of the IOCs and their key contractors.

“Our primary target is to have local SMEs win as many contracts as practicable, both in quantity and in value -- that will be our ultimate measure of success in achieving local content, and we will invite you to make that evaluation when our mandate expires,” he added.

He urged the media to educate the public, particularly SMEs, to take advantage of the services rendered at EDC to grow and expand their business.

EDC is a government of Ghana initiative through the Ministries of Petroleum and Trade and Industry, with financial support from the Jubilee Joint Venture Partners.

The centre has been tasked to provide a range of services including business training, capacity building, advisory services, access to markets and information, among others