Under the Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project (OGCBP) the Regional Maritime University (RMU), was chosen as one of the Tertiary institution to run training of youth for the Oil and Gas Industry. To put, the number of the various initiatives for capacity building in the oil and gas industry, the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity (AOGC) project was launch by the president at the RMU in 2007.
The program is scheduled to run for five (5) years to provide skills for Ghanaians in the Oil and Gas sector and about one thousand (1000) Ghanaian across the country are expected to be trained in Vocational and Technical aspects of the industry. The training will ensure capacity building by provision of human resource for the Oil and Gas sector. Linked to this, Aker Energy (an Offshore Oil and Gas institution operating in Ghana) will support the Government’ AOGC with 4.5 million dollars.
Ghana’s second lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia who was the Guest Speaker for the announcement of the official support announced that the program was part of government’s move to ensure local content. The initiative to provide opportunity for young people to work in the Oil and Gas, she said, was mooted by His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.
Launching this Aker Energy’s support, Country Manager for the outfit, Mr. Jan Helge Skogen said human capital was very essential in the Oil and Gas sector and developing Ghanaian’s competence in the sector would make Ghana compete favorably at the global level.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of RMU, Professor Elvis Nyarko, and Chairman of the occasion commended Aker Energy for coming on board to support this initiative focused on enhancing technical and vocational skills. The VC stressed that this was a huge platform to get manpower for the country and it was gratifying to know that the project will enjoy continuous support by the Norwegian Government. He expressed his delight for the Regional Maritime University as being part of the Tertiary Institutions where the programme would take place. It is expected that in the next ten (10) to fifteen (15) years, the Oil and Gas industry would go a long way to move the nation forward.
Published in the Ghanaian Times, Monday, April 8, 2019, page 26.
Information Source: Marketing Unit.