OIL AND GAS EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT IN GHANA

ABSTRACT It is expected that the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantity in the jubilee field in Ghana raises the hope and expectation of revenue flow and job creation for the citizens. However, oil and gas could end up as a resource curse or blessing depending on how the expectation of citizens are managed. This study therefore examined the expectation management of oil and gas in Ghana. Specifically, the study ascertained the framework of expectations management, examined the expectations management during exploration and development of oil and gas industry in Ghana and explored the efficacy of the expectation management framework. An in-depth interview guide was used to collect data from twenty respondents. Data was analysed manually using the qualitative content analysis. The study found that there is an existing expectation management framework. The study also found that the major expectation of individuals was job opportunities while at the community level, the major expectation was the development of sea defense and road constructions. It was also observed that various misconception and misinformation have negatively affected the efficacy of the expectation management framework. It is therefore recommended that the government and oil and gas production companies to increase efforts to sensitise the communities about oil and gas production.