Ghana and Uganda Enhance Petroleum Sector Cooperation Through Peer Learning

Accra: Ghana and Uganda are strengthening cooperation in the upstream petroleum sector through the exchange of practical lessons on petroleum governance, regulation, and operations. The Petroleum Commission (PC) last week hosted the Board of Directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) for a high-level peer-learning engagement aimed at sharing experiences and strengthening regulatory capacity. According to Ghana News Agency, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, described the visit as an opportunity for both institutions to learn from each other's experiences. "This is not simply a routine bilateral engagement. It is an opportunity for two African petroleum regulators to share what has worked, confront the challenges we have encountered and learn from each other as we seek to ensure that our petroleum resources deliver lasting value to our people," she stated. Ghana is prepared to share the successes and challenges it has experienced since transitioning from petr oleum exploration and development into commercial production, focusing on its legal and regulatory framework, policy development, and local content development. Mr. Ernest Thompson, Board Chairman of the Petroleum Commission, emphasized the importance of the engagement as African petroleum regulators confront increasingly complex challenges in the upstream sector. He commended Uganda's progress in advancing its major upstream projects and expressed the expectation that the engagement would lead to a more formal knowledge-sharing arrangement between the two regulatory institutions. Mr. Thompson noted Ghana's particular interest in Uganda's work in onshore resource management, community engagement, and environmental safeguards. Professor Vincent Bagire, a Member of the Board of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, spoke on behalf of the Ugandan delegation, highlighting the value of learning from Ghana's experience while sharing Uganda's own lessons in petroleum development. He stressed that the focus was not on comparing institutions but on identifying practical approaches to improve regulatory effectiveness in both countries. During the visit, the Petroleum Commission delivered technical presentations covering various aspects of Ghana's petroleum sector, followed by interactive discussions that allowed delegates to exchange practical experiences. The discussions centered on petroleum governance and the lessons each country could offer, particularly regarding onshore petroleum operations, investment attraction, resource management, and adapting to the global energy landscape. The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation and sustain knowledge exchange as Ghana and Uganda work to ensure their petroleum resources contribute meaningfully to national development.