The Petroleum Commission is urging international oil companies to be consistent in supporting the implementation of the Safe Sea Access Framework.

According to the Chief Executive, Egbert Faibille Jnr, the critical stage of the process is implementation, hence the call for consistency among their partners.

Speaking at a workshop organized by the commission for stakeholders in the fishing sector, he said “I would like to remind our IOC [international oil companies] partners that the critical stage of the process is implementation. Your continuous support is crucial in finding solutions to the challenges of co-existence in our part of the ocean,” he said.

Mr Faibille Jnr called on international oil companies partnering the commission to support the Safe Sea Access Framework till it is fully implemented.

He also urged the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber to support the framework technically and financially to ensure free offshore upstream operations.

“In this regard, I’ll entreat the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber to mobilize respectfully and jointly to provide the needed technical and financial support for the implementation of the Safe Sea Access Framework and the work of the Cumulative Impact Co-Management Platform to create an incident free offshore upstream petroleum operational environment,” he stated.

Notwithstanding, the Ministry of Energy pledged allegiance to the Petroleum Commission and the fishing community to ensure the successful implementation of the Safe Sea Access Framework.

Director of Petroleum, Ben Asante said the ministry is prepared to support the goal of creating and maintaining a safe sea environment for the ecosystem, fisherfolks and the oil fields.

Meanwhile, the Fisheries Commission says the only way for fishermen to get huge catches is for the Petroleum Commission and other stakeholders to fulfill their end of the bargain by ensuring the implementation of policies to improve the sector.

“We need to have a permanent solution to some of these issues and in doing that, we need to collaborate with all the stakeholders. We urge the Petroleum Commission to take the lead and implement some of the recommendations they’ve made so that our fishermen can make revenue,” said Joseph Yeboah, a representative from the Fisheries Commission.