The Deputy Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer has charged 150 young men and women selected by the Petroleum Commission to undergo training in various modules at the Jubilee Technical Training Centre at Takoradi Technical University under the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme (AOGC) to take the training seriously.
This according to Hon. Mercer will make them key contributors to vigorous efforts at ensuring participation of Ghanaians in the upstream oil and gas industry.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of Energy Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh at a commencement ceremony for the trainees, he said the AOGC programme was in fulfilment of a campaign promise of President Akufo-Addo to ensure that Ghanaians are equipped with the relevant skills to be able to work in Ghana’s oil and gas industry.
“The President recognizes the need for our young people to be equipped with skills that will make them competitive in the industry and therefore decisively introduced the AOGC programme. We are changing the narrative to ensure that Ghana does not only receive petroleum receipts but importantly, its human resource is able to contribute to the industry for economic growth and advancement”
He continued “With the right skills sets in the workforce, businesses can be more competitive, organizations more effective. Our economy can grow faster, creating more and better jobs”
On his part CEO of the Petroleum Commission, managers of the programme, Mr. Egbert Faibille Jnr., expressed his delight that history has been made under the NPP government. He asked the beneficiaries to ensure that they pass their examinations in order to be certified for job placements. He urged IOCs to take on board these trainees after their training at the TTU.
After the commencement ceremony, dignitaries present toured the Jubilee Training Centre to ascertain at first-hand, the facilities and installations which will enhance the training
The 6-month training aims at equipping trainees with skills in Process technician, Instrumentation, Mechanical technician and Electrical technician. Successful trainees will acquire CITY AND GUILDS LEVEL III certification and will not only be suitable for the oil and gas industry but allied sectors such as manufacturing, construction processing, automobile among others.