Petroleum Commission sponsors 8 lecturers to Canada under Government's AOGC Programme

Under the programme,  the beneficiary teachers will train and obtain certification as pipefitters, mechanical technicians as welders. 

Mr. Egbert Faibille, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Commission, today, the 12 January 2022, together with the Minister for Energy, Matthew Poku Prempeh, presented the eight candidates to President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House ahead of their departure from Ghana on the 22 January  2022 to begin their 10 months studies. 

In his brief address at the meeting, Mr. Faibille said the development constitutes part of efforts aimed at deepening the participation of Ghanaians in the Oil and Gas Sector and for that matter the upstream industry. 

"These persons are being trained at the sole cost of the Petroleum Commission and on return, will be mandated to introduce pipe fitting alongside other competencies that they are going to obtain in their various institutions," Mr. Faibille said.

*The Beneficiaries*

The Petroleum Commission CEO further pointed out that the AOGC beneficiaries after their training will return to Ghana to train other young people who are interested in upstream welding to develop further the capacity of more young people for their possible engagement by players in the oil and gas sector. 

The beneficiaries are Emmanuel Marcus Abaidoo, Takoradi Technical Institute, Isaac Oppong, Kikam Technical Institute, Daniel Kyei-Kankam, Takoradi Technical University, and Frank Nana Osei, Takoradi Technical University.

The rest are Abdul Hamid Mohammed, Tamale Technical University, Wise Kwashie Klomegah, Ho Technical University, Samuel Garriba, Cape Coast Technical University, and the only female, Gladys Perpetual Awudi, Koforidua Technical University.

*President Akufo Addo*

President Akufo Addo, when he addressed the delegation could not hide his delight at the fact that the Petroleum Commission has sustained the AOGC policy on its mandate to develop the capacity of Ghanaians for strategic participation in the oil and gas space. 

He charged the 8 candidates to take their studies seriously so that upon their return, they can make meaningful contributions to the country's oil and gas sector.

"You are part of a nation-building exercise and if God willing we succeed in developing and bring prosperity to it, you have a very cavorted place in that narrative and that story," President Akufo-Addo said. 

*The AOGC*

The AOGC was established in November 2017 with the intent to enhance the capacity of Ghanaians to enable them to work in the Oil and Gas sector. The program will be in effect for 5 years and aims to train individuals in various technical and vocational areas, build the capacity of educational institutions to be able to train students and provide internationally recognized training certificates, provide business and management training for SMEs, and ensure the continuous professional development of employees of various public institutions connected to the Oil and Gas industry. 
The objectives of the program are as follows: Ensure the creation of jobs and professional integration pathways, facilitate capacity building of educational and training institutes, invest in education and skills enhancement, minimize the cost of training, localize training, improve quality of education/training, empower local companies to actively participate in the Oil and Gas industry, train Ghanaians in high job-creating sectors (welding, pipe fitting, fabrication, and installation, etc.), and to encourage women’s participation in the AOGC.

Yaw Opoku