PETROLEUM COMMISSION, COMMITTED TO LOCAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT – DEP. CEO

The regulator of Ghana’s upstream oil and gas industry, Petroleum Commission has reiterated its commitment towards the development of local capacities to meet international standards to help majority of Ghanaians to play active roles in the industry with the successful training of twenty (20) Ghanaians in oil and gas welding.

This, the Deputy CEO of the Commission, Mr. Benjamin Aboagye says dovetails into the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity programme (AOGC) which is aimed at helping build the capacities of Ghanaians in the oil and gas industry to position them to become industry experts and market leaders.

“These objectives are aimed at achieving one of the key pillars of L.I. 2204; to develop local capacities in the petroleum industry value chain through education, skill transfer, expertise development, transfer of technology, and active research and development programs,” he stated.

According to Mr. Benjamin Aboagye, the successful training of these Ghanaians in Ghana adds up to the commitment of the commission to help government achieve its goal of building Ghana into a leading oil and gas hub in the sub region.

He added that the commission is collaborating with industry players to organize more of such trainings to help build the capacities of more Ghanaians in oil and gas industry. He says the Commission is working with several IOCs and major service companies such as Haliburton, Baker Hughes/GE and Subsea 7 to establish a framework for providing technical training to a number of Ghanaians.

“Further, earlier this year, the Commission entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Canada to train five (5) Ghanaians to become internationally accredited and certified specialised welders. Currently, these five individuals are in Canada pursuing their training, and we commend Baker Hughes Ghana for sponsoring their training.

“The five beneficiaries will undertake a Training of Trainees’ programme to transfer the skills learnt to their colleague welders in Ghana. The above-mentioned effort amongst others exhibit Government’s commitment to building the capacity of Ghanaians to take their rightful place in upstream petroleum sector,” Mr. Aboagye reiterated.

Mr. Benjamin Aboagye called on industry operators to partner the Commission through its AOGC Programme in order to synergise efforts towards enhancing local capacity development. He urged the graduates to put their newly acquired skill to use to help build Ghana’s oil and gas industry.

“You are expected to use your newly acquired knowledge and skills to contribute your quota to Ghana’s upstream industry. Seize this opportunity to excel as professionals in your field and the industry. On our part as a Commission, we would work with the industry players to explore job opportunities for you and facilitate placements for vacancies that are relevant to your skills,” he stated.

The twenty (20) welders were trained by a leading welding and fabrication company in Ghana, Danest Engineering Company Limited, based in the capital of the Western Region, Sekondi-Takoradi.

By: Samuel Kojo Brace/Skyy News/Takoradi