GNPC Deepens Coastal Stakeholder Engagement to Promote Safety Around Offshore Operations
As part of efforts to promote safety and responsible activity around offshore oil installations, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has intensified stakeholder engagement across key fishing communities in the Western and Central Regions.
The engagements, aimed at reinforcing awareness of established safety guidelines, including the 500-meter exclusion zone around offshore facilities, brought together chief fishermen, fishmongers, and community leaders to promote safe fishing practices and strengthen understanding of offshore operational requirements.
The initiative forms part of GNPC’s broader collaboration with industry partners and sector institutions to promote safe coexistence between offshore petroleum operations and fishing activities.
While the initial engagements focused on communities in the Western Region, GNPC has extended the outreach to frontline fishing communities in the Central Region, including Mfantsiman and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA).
These sessions are designed to sustain awareness, reinforce safety protocols, and deepen engagement with fisherfolk whose activities take place in proximity to offshore operations.
Recent data show a reduction in incursions in 2026 following earlier increases in 2024 and 2025, underscoring the importance of sustained engagement and awareness in achieving long-term compliance.
Speaking during the engagements, GNPC’s Manager for Social Performance, Ms. Patience Lartey, emphasised the importance of adhering to safety guidelines to protect both lives and critical offshore infrastructure.
She noted that sustained awareness and continuous engagement remain key to improving compliance and ensuring that fishing activities around offshore installations are conducted safely.
The sessions also provided a platform to share updates on ongoing offshore activities and reinforce the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining safety standards within Ghana’s maritime space.
In the Central Region, additional engagements were led by the Social Performance team, which highlighted the legal and safety implications of entering restricted zones and using local media platforms to extend awareness beyond landing sites to the wider coastal community.
The engagements were conducted in collaboration with industry partners and relevant sector institutions, reflecting a coordinated approach to stakeholder engagement within Ghana’s offshore environment.
Participants were encouraged to continue working closely with regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders to promote safe practices and strengthen coexistence between the fishing and oil and gas sectors.
GNPC will continue to extend these engagements across coastal regions as part of its efforts to sustain awareness, strengthen relationships with host communities, and support safe and responsible offshore operations.