In Ghana’s oil sector, often dominated by deep-pocketed international players, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is taking concrete steps to build the capacities of local participants in the vending space to compete and win.
The GNPC, together with the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), is working to close the knowledge and skills gap in the procurement processes among local vendors.
At a recent capacity-building programme in Tema, GNPC brought together a cross-section of its local vendors, from caterers, cleaners, branding firms, to technical service providers, not just to train them, but to reposition them.
GNPC says the goal is to move local businesses from the margins of the oil and gas value chain to its core.
For many of these vendors, the challenges have been accessibility and understanding. For these, procurement processes in the oil and gas sector can feel like a maze, with strict compliance requirements, digital systems, and technical documentation often acting as silent barriers.
This is where the capacity training stepped in. Rather than focusing on theory, the sessions broke down the practical realities of doing business with GNPC.
Participants were guided through how to prepare competitive bids, avoid costly submission errors, and, crucially, navigate the Ghana Electronic Procurement System, the digital backbone of public procurement in Ghana.
GNPC’s Manager for Supply Chain and Local Content Development, Salim Braimah, told participants that local content is not just about preference; it is about preparedness.
“Local content requires capability. At GNPC, our focus is to ensure that Ghanaian businesses are well-prepared to compete, comply, and deliver within a structured and transparent procurement environment,” he remarked.
Moreover, he added that as GNPC pushes toward its ambition of becoming an operator in exploration and production, the demands on its supply chain will only increase. That transition could either widen the gap between local and foreign firms or finally close it.
By equipping vendors with hands-on knowledge, such as how to register, submit bids, and meet compliance standards, the Corporation is not just improving procurement efficiency.
It says it is building a pipeline of local businesses capable of scaling into more complex, higher-value roles within the oil and gas ecosystem.
For participants, the impact was immediate. What once seemed like a complicated, bureaucratic process began to feel navigable. Confidence replaced uncertainty. And for many, the possibility of competing on a level playing field no longer felt out of reach.
As many proponents for local content indicate, deepening local participation in Ghana’s oil and gas industry is not just about economic inclusion; it is about retaining value, building expertise, and ensuring that the country’s natural resources translate into broad-based development.
