GNPC holds maiden vendor engagement seminar to promote local content participation in Ghana’s oil and gas industry

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has hosted its maiden Vendor Engagement Seminar as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening local content and deepening Ghanaian participation in the oil and gas sector.

The event, held under the theme “Promoting Local Content and Local Participation through Vendor Engagement”, brought together Ghanaian businesses, suppliers, and vendors to explore ways of enhancing transparency, building stronger supplier relationships, and supporting sustainable procurement partnerships.

Opening the seminar, GNPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah, underscored the corporation’s inclusive growth strategy. “The theme of this engagement goes to the heart of GNPC’s mandate. For us, Local Content is not merely a regulatory requirement. It is central to our strategy to grow together with local enterprises in a mutually beneficial partnership, ensuring our nation’s resources create real opportunities for our people, businesses, and communities,” he said.

A technical session led by Madam Barbara Afriyie-Owusu of the Supply Chain and Local Content Development Department highlighted compliance as the bedrock of successful tendering. “Compliance is like oxygen—you don’t always notice it, but you cannot survive long without it. Keep your documents ready, make your submissions responsive, and credibility will follow. Trust me, the contract will come,” she stated.

She cautioned vendors against recurring pitfalls, including incomplete forms, missing pages, expired statutory certificates, late submissions, and incorrect file formats. With GNPC’s tender process now fully digital, she emphasised that excuses such as traffic delays or narrowly missed deadlines would no longer be accepted, as the system automatically locks at closing time.

Contractors were encouraged to carefully review tender documents, seek clarifications early, and submit bids ahead of deadlines to avoid last-minute congestion. “It is a competition, and everyone wants to win. Paying attention to deadlines, technical specifications, and compliance requirements ensures fairness in the process. GNPC’s doors are open to all, but only those who meet the requirements will succeed,” Madam Afriyie-Owusu added.

The seminar also featured presentations from the Petroleum Commission, which expanded on Ghana’s local content framework, and the Public Procurement Authority, which introduced the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) as a tool to improve vendor participation.

On the sidelines, Mr. Seidu Salim Braimah, Manager of Supply Chain and Local Content Development, reaffirmed GNPC’s commitment to supporting local economies by sourcing goods and services from vendors within its operational areas, thereby ensuring that host communities benefit directly from the corporation’s activities.

Opportunities for indigenous enterprises, particularly in projects such as the Voltaian Basin, were also spotlighted. GNPC urged businesses to view procurement not as a barrier, but as a pathway to trust-building, expanding opportunities, and strengthening Ghanaian participation in the country’s energy sector.