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Executive Director of Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA), Mr. Nuertey Adzeman says the Atuabo Freeport project is a significant public private partnership aimed at creating a dedicated oil and gas port along the coast of Ghana to serve the emerging oil and gas industry.

According to him, as service providers, the new port will provide them with the opportunity to develop their capacity to service the industry not only in Ghana but in the wider regional market.

He again stated in their press statement that, with the Atuabo Freeport, local content can be given a major impetus with an increase in Ghanaian participation in the percentage of locally produced materials, the number of local personnel, and the amount of goods and services rendered in the petroleum industry value chain.

Mr. Adzeman in the press statement pontificated that the argument by the 5 parliamentarians to defend Takoradi Ports and protect jobs of many Ghanaians working there cannot be justified; emphasizing that the Atuabo Freeport project is complimentary to that of Takoradi.

He maintained that the Atuabo Freeport will not displace any workers as being claimed by some parliamentarians; indicating that the existence of a fabrication yard at the Atuabo Freeport holds immense potential for service providers as Ghana is currently building a second FPSO for TEN project in Singapore with very limited Ghanaian participation.

Insofar as the 1974 SOLAS Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which took effect on July 1, 2004, the association believes the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code will be applied at the Port; hence deflating the argument of the parliamentarians that the new port will pose a security risk to Ghana.

He insisted that there will be a dedicated facility located at the port to oversee security; stressing that local content and participation provisions within the Petroleum Laws seek to promote maximization of value addition through the use of local expertise, goods, services and materials in petroleum activities and the retention in-country of as much activity as possible.

Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA) believes the Atuabo Freeport project will maximize in-country spending, build local capacity and help ensure technology and knowledge transfer.

To the association, it is unfortunate the manufacturing and industrial base of Ghana is at this point in time not sufficiently mature to take advantage of the growing opportunities as most goods utilized in the petroleum values chain are imported.

The association therefore called on the people it describes as “detractors of the project" to put an end to their shortsighted machinations and perhaps their “personal interest”.

The association however described the action of the 5 parliamentarians as “ridiculous” after all members of the same parliament have approved the project and then turn around to declare the approval by the House as illegal.