Energy sector adopts local content policy

The Energy Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah says the power generating sector is putting up clear guidelines in gathering expertise developed and acquired in the energy sector.

According to the minister, the guidelines will state clearly persons with particular expertise, who are available to take up jobs in the energy sector.

Commenting on JoyNews, Tuesday, the minister noted that the policy will create more job opportunities for Ghanaians.

Mr. Armah Kofi Buah said Ghanaians, over the years have acquired lots of experiences in consultancy, electrification cabling, building and management of plants, as they are in the forefront of these industries in the country.

The exercise is part of Government's initiative to introduce another local content policy for power generation sector by the middle of next year.

The state currently has a local content policy in place for the mining, oil and gas sectors. 

The policy is aimed at giving the first option to Ghanaians, when it comes to recruitment of personnel for various services in these sectors.

It also requests the companies to source at least, 10 percent of their inputs for local production.

Meanwhile, Parliament last month approved the local content policy for the oil and gas sector.

However some companies in the oil and gas sector say its implementation might face some challenges, arguing that they are not comfortable with portions of the policy, which seek to criminalize non-compliance.

Some investment analysts warned Ghana could suffer greatly if it goes ahead to enforce the law.