The remarks follow the graduation of 149 Ghanaians after six months of hands-on technician training, to enable them to work in the Petroleum industry.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the students in Takoradi, the Chief Executive of the Petroleum Commission, Egbert Faibille Jnr. said the training program cost the government GH5.1 million and has led to the training of internationally certified professionals that can work in various aspects of the petroleum industry.

“Of the 149 persons that have graduated, 43 graduated as City and Guilds International Vocational Qualification (IVQ) level 3 Mechanical Technicians, 22 as IVQ level 3 Electrical Technicians, 44 as IVQ level 3 Process Technicians and 41 as IVQ level 3 Instrumentation Technicians. It cost the Petroleum Commission US$ 7,500 for each of the graduates in question. In total, the commission spent GH¢ 5.1 million for the entire training program.”

“The best way graduates can show appreciation, is to commit to working in Ghana, and help reduce the cost of Oil and Gas Production in the country so that the IOC and government will spend less in exploration and production of oil from the standpoint of job role localization,” he added.