Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy & Petroleum, has disclosed that about $580 million has been realized from the Local Content policy.

According to him, there has been a significant improvement in the award of contracts since the start of the commercial production of oil.

Mr. Buah, who was speaking recently at a press briefing in Accra, said currently about 152 Ghanaian companies out of 232 that have registered with the Petroleum Commission provide direct and indirect services to operators in the upstream industry.

He said they offer catering, logistics and freight forwarding and waste management services.

Mr Buah said as at December 2013, a total number of 6,929 personnel were employed in the petroleum upstream sector.

This, he said, consisted of 5,589 Ghanaians and 1,340 expatriates, representing approximately 80 percent and 20 percent respectively.

“In order to enhance employment of Ghanaians in the sector, the Commission regulates the engagement of expatriate workers by requiring all foreign companies in the sector to submit succession plans indicating the timelines and association training requirements for Ghanaians to replace expatriate workers,” Mr. Buah said.

He said, “It is only Ghanaians who can work in the industry. The foreigners are working there because we do not have the expertise.

“We have a timeline and plan to ensure that we get Ghanaians to replace them in the near future.”

Mr. Buah challenged Ghanaians to improve themselves to take over those positions occupied by expatriates, stating that “we have the capacity to compete at all levels.”

He said plans were far advanced to develop local content policies for the renewable energy and the petroleum downstream sub-sector.

Mr. Buah announced that FPSO Mills was expected to arrive in Ghana in December 2015 with the full complement of Ghanaian technicians and engineers.