The Petroleum Commissions of Ghana and The Gambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in petroleum regulation, institutional capacity building and technical knowledge sharing as both countries seek to enhance governance of their upstream oil and gas sectors.
The agreement, signed in The Gambia, establishes a formal framework for collaboration on petroleum regulation, local content development, compliance monitoring, human resource development and institutional strengthening.
The MoU was signed by the Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Engr. Cany Jobe, and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, following a three-day working visit by a high-level Ghanaian delegation.
The Ghanaian delegation also paid courtesy calls on The Gambia’s Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Hon. Nani Juwara, and the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), where discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in the petroleum sector.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Hardcastle described the agreement as a significant milestone that extends beyond a formal partnership, saying it reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing Africa’s petroleum industry through collaboration.
She noted that as African petroleum-producing and frontier nations navigate challenges such as attracting investment and managing the global energy transition, stronger cooperation among regulators had become increasingly important.
“Our most important task begins: turning the commitments in our MoU into meaningful, on-the-ground results,” she said, expressing confidence that the partnership would strengthen both institutions while reinforcing the longstanding relationship between Ghana and The Gambia.
The agreement covers cooperation in upstream petroleum regulation, petroleum data management, legal and regulatory frameworks, local content implementation, compliance monitoring and enforcement, staff exchanges, technical assistance, internships, study visits and specialised training programmes.
Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Engr. Cany Jobe, described the partnership as an important step towards building strong institutions capable of managing petroleum resources responsibly.
She observed that while discovering petroleum depended on geology and investment, sustainable national benefits could only be achieved through effective regulation, technical competence and accountable institutions.
Engr. Jobe said Ghana’s petroleum development journey offered valuable lessons for emerging petroleum-producing countries such as The Gambia, noting that Ghana’s experience demonstrated the importance of patience, sound regulation and institutional preparedness.
Representing The Gambia’s Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Permanent Secretary Abdoulie Jallow welcomed the agreement, describing it as a practical demonstration of Pan-African cooperation.
He urged both petroleum regulators to ensure that the agreement translates into practical programmes, measurable outcomes and long-term benefits for both countries.
As part of the agreement, the two commissions will establish a Joint Steering and Oversight Committee to supervise implementation, develop annual work plans and coordinate technical cooperation through specialised sub-committees.
The partnership is expected to enhance regulatory capacity, promote knowledge transfer and strengthen institutional collaboration as Ghana and The Gambia work together to advance sustainable and transparent petroleum sector development across the continent.
