Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has reiterated calls for Ghanaians to assume leading roles in the various sub-sectors under the country’s energy sector.

According to him, the practice of expatriates being awarded huge contracts due to the lack of skills and technical know-how among Ghanaians must be addressed.

To achieve this, he believes more people ought to be given the needed education and training in the various sub-sectors of the energy sector.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the Ghana Welding Bureau which has been set up to regulate and see to the development of the welding industry.

“There is nothing we can do without pipefitters or welders. Look at Ghana Gas which is supposed to take gas everywhere. If it’s supposed to take gas everywhere including our homes, just imagine the number of pipefitters we need. If we have a dry dock working, all these FPSOs can even be built in Ghana. That is taking commanding heights of your economy.”

“People come from Malaysia or Philippines to lay the pipes, take our money, and take their talent and skills back to earn fat salaries. But for Ghanaians to enjoy our oil fund, we in government must do everything to have as many Ghanaians trained as possible for the benefit of Ghana.”

Ghana has over the years lost opportunities for indigenous welders to be employed to play key roles in the upstream petroleum industry though there are thousands of qualified as well as artisanal welders in the country.

To address this challenge, the Ghana Welding Bureau has been set up to be responsible for the certification and registration of companies and individuals involved in the welding and allied operations.

This will in turn pave the way for young Ghanaians to be employed in the oil and gas, mining, automotive, and other allied industries.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Egbert Faibille, speaking at the launch of the Bureau said his outfit seeks “to produce Welding Engineers within a decade among the other pathways that are stated and available”.

He added, “In that direction, GWB needs an Act of Parliament to back it and we have no doubt that the Ministry of Energy will lead GWB to that status.”

By: Ellen Dapaah

Source: www.citibusinessnews.com