GNPC and Jubilee-TEN Partners Extend Community Engagement to Central Region Coastal Areas
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), in collaboration with its Jubilee and TEN partners, has expanded its stakeholder engagement initiatives to key fishing communities in Ghana's Central Region. The purpose of this strategic outreach is to improve community partnerships and promote safe offshore operations.
This initiative highlights GNPC's commitment to transparency, collaboration, and responsible resource management. The primary focus of these engagements was to educate fishermen and canoe owners on critical safety and security protocols about offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Furthermore, the sessions provided a platform to reinforce established grievance redress procedures and deepen mutual understanding with coastal stakeholders whose activities may intersect with offshore operations.
These engagements are particularly pertinent given the recent increase in canoe incursions into restricted offshore zones. Between January and May 2025, 159 incursions were recorded within the Advisory Zone, with an additional 32 reported in the 500-meter Exclusive Zone across the Jubilee and TEN fields. Such incidents are considered both illegal and hazardous, necessitating intensified community awareness campaigns.
Recognizing that fishermen from coastal areas such as Elmina, Komenda, and Winneba frequently travel considerable distances to fishing grounds, the Jubilee-TEN Partners strategically extended their outreach beyond the Western Region to include these Central Region communities. This expansion aims to enhance awareness of offshore safety regulations and mitigate the risk of future infractions.
During the engagement sessions, Ms. Patience Lartey, GNPC’s Manager for Social Performance and Local Content, referenced the Ghana Shipping (Protection of Offshore Operations and Assets) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2010). She highlighted the mandate for establishing Exclusive and Advisory Zones around offshore operations, cautioning that unauthorized entry into these zones constitutes a violation of national regulations and poses significant risks to human life and national revenue.
"Disruptions to FPSO operations could cost the country millions of dollars," Ms. Lartey emphasized, further noting that petroleum revenues are actively being invested in critical social interventions nationwide, including within the Central Region.
Officers from the Ghana Marine Police, who participated in the engagements, reiterated the legal ramifications of canoe incursions. Inspector Opambour presented photographic and video evidence of violations, indicating that some individuals are now on the Marine Police’s wanted list for breaching offshore safety laws.
Leadership from the Canoe Council and other representatives of the fishing communities expressed appreciation for the initiative and pledged their cooperation. They assured the team that the shared information would be disseminated to community members and committed to promoting safer and more informed fishing practices moving forward.
These engagement sessions are an integral part of a broader collaborative strategy by GNPC and its partners aimed at safeguarding offshore assets, protecting livelihoods, and fostering sustainable relationships with Ghana’s coastal communities.