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Gov’t launches accelerated oil & gas capacity programme to train Ghanaians

kencitymediagh
Nov 7, 2017
2 min read

Government has launched the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Programme, which is aimed at empowering Ghanaians with the requisite skills for them to be at the forefront of the Oil and Gas industry.

The programme will focus on building the capacity of Ghanaians in four areas namely: technical, vocational, apprenticeship development and utilization; capacity development of educational institutions; SME capacity building; and public institutional development & sector management.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Energy Mr. Boakye Agyarko noted that the initiative signifies his commitment to expand opportunities in the industry, and to use it as a catalyst for the rapid transformation of our country.

"We want to make sure that Ghana runs a successful oil and gas regime, and my government will do everything possible to achieve this feat.

"What history has taught us and the lessons we have learnt from other successful oil and gas jurisdictions, are that deliberate policies and programmes have been put in place to ensure that nationals of these oil and gas economies take a full and active part in oil and gas activities," he said.

According to the President, the Ministry of Energy has already laid out a plan under the programme which will train one thousand Ghanaians annually to gain various technical skills.

He added that two hundred Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) will be provided with the capacity to gain a competitive advantage in the industry while three hundred employees in public institutions will also be adequately prepared to support the development of oil and gas policies and the enforcement of industry regulations.

President Nana Akufo-Addo said his government is desirous of increasing upstream activity, particularly following the favourable judgment on the maritime boundary dispute with Cote d'Ivoire.

He stressed that the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Programme is therefore well placed to prepare our people to take advantage of the massive opportunities that will be provided by the ongoing and new developments in the oil industry.

He called on oil companies, especially those involved in the provision of services, to support the programme.

“The Petroleum Commission is also hereby, directed to ensure the full implementation of the regulations to make this programme a success in our Oil and gas development,” he said.

The Minister for Energy Boakye Agyarko later toured the State of the art Oil and Gas facility constructed by the Regional Maritime University with support from World Bank.