My career begun at Shell Ghana Limited in 1999 and by four years I held the position of Head of Convenience Retailing overseeing a cluster of countries with Ghana and Togo being the major markets under my jurisdiction. Having chalked this achievement I was ready for my next move to pursue my MBA. In 2005 I applied for Chevening Scholarship which is managed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office which identifies future leaders across the globe to study a Masters Degree in top notch universities in the UK. I was one of 9 students to be selected amongst 3600 applicants. In 2007, whilst completing my MBA at Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow, Scotland, I heard the news that there has been the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in Ghana. That was when my quest to work upstream begun and the focus was to be in Corporate Communications. I was successful and got hired by Shell Ghana Limited once again and this time I got the desired role as Cluster Communications Manager. I worked for about a year and thereafter my dream to move upstream came into fruition. Little did I know that it was a journey to shake the hands of 3 living Ghanaian Presidents in one day, welcome Ghana’s First Lady at the diplomatic section at Singapore’s International Airport, sit in the same room with CEO’s of Oil Companies making up the Jubilee Partners, meet Ministers of State, Ambassadors, influential media personalities and official travels to Europe, America, Asia and above all to have an experience both bitter and sweet and worth every moment of it.

HOUSTON: OFFICES OF TECHNIP, FMC and ANARDARKO: To meet with members of the IPT (Integrated Project Team) for a presentation on the Jubilee Project, see the manufacturing plant for Manifolds and Christmas Trees for oil and gas.

DALLAS FORTWORTH AND MOBILE ALABAMA – Witness the Spooling of pipes for the Jubilee field by the Deep Blue Ship.

SINGAPORE : WITH THE BOARD OF GNPC: To see the FPSO under construction. SINGAPORE: WITH A CROSS SECTION OF THE GHANAIAN MEDIA. SINGAPORE: TO CARRY OUT THE NAMING CEREMONY OF THE FPSO.

GHANA: FIRST OIL CELEBRATION.

ACCRA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE: OIL & GAS CONFERENCES.

TECHNIP office in Houston. Was shown different models of the FPSO.

Witnessed the loading of the manifolds. Setting off for Ghana’s Jubilee Oil Field.

Taking a break after a presentation on the Jubilee Field Project at the Anadarko Office

Picture taken in front of the Anadarko office in Houston

Filming on progress of Jubilee Field project to show back home in Ghana on National television. (Blue Arrow)

On Deep Blue Vessel with Captain of the ship.

Arrival of Jubilee oil field ‘Christmas Trees’ at the Takoradi port.

To my right is Cadman Mills, brother of the late President H. E. John Evans Atta Mills. 3rd from left is Awulae Attibrukusu III GNPC board member and President of the Regional House of Chiefs in the Western Region where the Jubilee Field is located. 1st left: Mrs. Alexandra Amoako Mensah FPSO Kwame Nkrumah in the background; still under construction by MODEC.

I am on the extreme left and next to me is Mr. Ato Ahwoi the Chairman of GNPC (Ghana National Petroleum Company) The gentlemen in the blue overalls are trainees from Takoradi Polytechnic. They have since been gainfully employed in the Oil & Gas industry.

On board the FPSO under construction

At the Jurong shipyard in Singapore with a team of seasoned ace journalists from radio and television across the country to witness the construction of the FPSO and report back in Ghana. To my left: Thomas Manu; Director of Operations, GNPC.

. • Third from left :Dai Jones, Former President & • General Manager of Tullow Ghana Limited. • Extreme Right: Dennis McLaughlin: Former VP & Jubilee Project Director; Kosmos Energy • Extreme Left: Israel Laryea, Broadcast Journalist and News Anchor with Joy FM and MultiTV

Below: Picture with Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Education. Picture taken when he was then Deputy Minister of Information

Masterminded The Creation, Coordination And Implementation Of A Series Of Events To Mark The Celebration Of Ghana’s Commencement Of Production Of Oil In Commercial Quantities.

• Middle: Former First Lady H. E. Ernestina Naadu Mills • 3rd from Left: Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei; Then Minister of Energy Now Minister of Environment Science & Technology • 2nd from Left: Hon. Moses Asaga. Now CEO of National Petroleum Authority. • 4th from Right: Aidan Heavy CEO Tullow Oil. • 3rd from Right: Brian Maxted CEO Kosmos Energy • Extreme Right: Chuck Provost CEO Anadarko

LUNCHEON

A NIGHT OF WINING! DINING! AND ENTERTAINMENT

2nd from Left Ambassador Kwame Tenkorang then Ambassador of Ghana to Japan and Singapore Now Director of State Protocol. 4th from Left H. E. Helen Coffie Ambassador of Ghana to China.

Extreme Right: Sateesh Dev, CEO of MODEC, Builders of the FPSO. 2nd from Left: Dai Jones, Then President & General Manager of Tullow Ghana Limited.

Left: Chuck Provost, Former CEO of Anadarko Petroleum. Right: Don Lee Fook Kang, General Manager: Jurong Shipyard, Singapore.

The famous symbolic opening of the valve to commemorate commencement of oil production In Ghana.

H. E. the Late President Evans Atta Mills doing the honours.

Left: Keith Mutimer Production and Operations Mgr. of Tullow Oil

Right: H. E. Ambassador Ken Kanda; Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations. He was then the Director of State Protocol; Leading the President to fly back to the event grounds after the symbolic opening of the valve on the FPSO.

H. E. the Late President John Evans Atta Mills greeting H. E. President John Agyekum Kufour and H. E. President Jerry John Rawlings at the Takoradi Air force base on his return from commissioning First Oil on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah

Solidarity handshakes with fellow compatriots

“We Made it Happen”

Shaking hands with 3 Presidents was an honour

President John Agyekum Kufour

President Jerry John Rawlings President John Atta Mills

Elizabeth Ernestina Bentil

Picture taken with Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei

• 2nd Left: Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei then Minister of Energy. • 2nd Right: Mr. Ato Ahwoi Chairman of GNPC. • Middle: H. E. The Late President John Evans Atta Mills.

Oil & Gas issues discussed with a panel of experts with focus on Local Content.

A room representing the entire Corporate Ghana. CEO’s of Banks, Oil Companies, Industries, Radio & TV , NGO’s Business Men and Women and Senior Management.

Responding to questions from the media

Launch of National Essay Competition

• 2nd from Left: Kwaku Sakyi Addo; CEO Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and former BBC and Reuters correspondent. • Right: Edward Boateng: CEO of Global Media Alliance • Organizers of annual ‘CNN Journalist of the Year’ award.

• Extreme Left: Kwaku Sakyi Addo; CEO Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications. • 2nd Left: Elizabeth Ohene; Former Minister of Education.

A night of great entertainment with Ghana’s classic music icons in the likes of Sarkodie, Samini, Kwabena Kwabena Becca and the ‘All Time’ Kojo Antwi. KSM cracked the audience up with laughter having KKD, Ghana’s finest MC steering the night.

A girl’s ‘gotta’ have some fan. Dancing with the MC for the occasion KKD.

1st on the Left: Dr. Anthony Aubynn; CEO of Minerals Commission then Corporate Affairs Manager for Tullow 2nd Right: George Sarpong; Corporate Affairs Manager for Kosmos Energy.

To God be the glory great things He has done. The ‘First Oil’ events ended with a thanksgiving service. Dr. Mensah Otabil General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church delivered a fantastic message on Ghana’s oil find centred on the theme: Through Wisdom a House is Built’

Dr. Mensah Otabil delivering his sermon at the First Oil Thanksgiving Service.

As part of my portfolio I managed Oil & Gas conferences. I worked directly with the various business units such as Operations & Production, Supply Chain or HR in getting the right data and information to engage suppliers and stakeholders. Customized stands to reflect the event.

Fostered the sponsorship of Local Content conferences & exhibition of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).

Wrote reports on every Oil and Gas conference and events undertaken outlining the proceedings, best practices and action plan if there may be.

A standard Tullow stand usually customized for different exhibitions.

The President, H. E. John Mahama cutting the tape to officially open the 3 day Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition.

President John Mahama visiting the Tullow stand

3rd from my right: Minister of Energy and Petroleum

Honourable Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah

Opposite Me: Crown Prince Haakon, heir apparent to the throne of Norway and his wife Crown Princess Mette –Marit visit the Tullow Oil stand at an Oil & Gas conference and exhibition during a state visit to Ghana.

To my right is Willy Olsen Senior Advisor for INTSOK. To my left is Dr. Anthony Aubynn explaining to the Crown Prince the gift of Ghana’s independence arch which has actual Jubilee oil as insert within the black star. (Gift shown on left)

Presenting the gift to Her Royal Highness Princess Mette-Marit

Welcoming Hon. Hanna Tetteh: Minister for Trade and Industry to the Tullow stand. Currently the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

To my right is Nana Owusu Afari Then President of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)

Extreme left is Hon. Hanna Tetteh Current Minister of Foreign Affairs

2nd from left is Dai Jones former President & General Mgr. Tullow Ghana Limited

Always ensured effective branding

To my right : Seth Twum Akwaboah Executive Director of AGI.

To my left : Nana Owusu Afari Immediate past President of AGI

To the Right Tullow staff

About to receive an award on behalf of Tullow Oil For immense contribution towards Local Content

Receiving an award on behalf of Tullow Oil

Left: Aidan Heavey; CEO of Tullow Oil. Helping Aidan to unveil the winning kente cloth for the First Oil Anniversary.

In a pose with Aidan

Paul McGinley

Welcoming Honourable Clement Kofi Humado to the event. He was then the Minister of Youth and Sports Prior to becoming Minister of Agriculture.

Unveiling of the plaque by Hon. C. K. Humado then Minister of Youth and Sports to mark the official opening of the academy.

Management and staff of Tullow in a picture with the then Honourable Minister of Sports C. K. Humado and Paul McGinley (Extreme Right)

It’s been a pleasure sharing with you some of the most significant times in my career in upstream oil and gas. I thank God for the grace and wisdom in having the management skills of Government Relations and Negotiation, Administration, Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate and Marketing Communication, Event Management, Media Relations and the gift of Creativity and Innovation to be successful in every endeavour. I look forward to many more exciting challenges as I surge towards new dimensions in leadership. ELIZABETH ERNESTINA BENTIL

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