The Ghana National Petroleum Corperation (GNPC) has launched a scholarship foundation intended to offer Ghanaian students the opportunity to acquire a Bachelor's degree (BA), Master's degree (MBA) and Doctoral degree (PhD) in the area of Petroleum Engineering and Oil and Gas related courses.
The purpose of the foundation is to give better institutional focus to GNPC's contribution to build national capacity in all aspects of petroleum operations. It would further continue to develop strategies for supporting individual and institutional initiatives designed to build capacities in oil and gas.
The foundation, which has been named 'GNPC Oil and Gas Learning Foundation', will be operating as an autonomous entity made up of a five member council with the day-to-day management from the Executive Secretary and its members.
The council, which will be chaired by Mr. Kwame Peprah, consists of the Chief Executive of GNPC, Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye, Minister of Education, Mrs. Jane Nana Opoku, GETFUND Administrator, Mr. Sam Garba and the Executive secretary of GNPC, Pastor Andrew K.L. Badoo.
Speaking at the launching of the learning foundation yesterday in Accra, the Minister for Energy, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah said the foundation will offer many Ghanaians who because of financial constraints could not further their education the opportunity to realize their dreams.
He said the Oil and Gas learning foundation will close the huge gap in the training and research in oil and gas sector. Mr. Buah disclosed that the initiative was in line with activities that the corporation is authorized by the GNPC's PNDC Law to undertake. That is, section 2(2) of PNDC Law 64.
The law states, GNPC ensure that Ghana obtains the greatest possible benefits from the development of its petroleum resources; obtain the effective transfer to Ghana of appropriate technology relating to petroleum operations and ensure the training of citizens of Ghana and the development of national capabilities in all aspects of petroleum operations.
"This initiative will make available poll of skill people in the area of oil and gas that the GNPC will benefit from, when the need arise", the Minister ascertain.
The Minister however pledged of his outfit support to ensure the learning foundation focus more on developing and building local content to the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaians, adding that "this is the way to ensure oil and gas is a blessing and not a curse to Ghana".
The Chief Executive of GNPC, Mr. Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye said the learning foundation was to demonstrate to Ghanaians that the GNPC does more than paying taxes to the state.
He said his outfit would continue to ensure that every Ghanaian benefit from the nation's petroleum. " we have four plans for the 2012/2013 year, which are investing in local content, building capacity and growing reserve, efficient capitalization and catalyzing local content development", he disclosed.
Mr. Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye hinted that, the GNPC will be investing a whooping sum of USD15-20 billion in Ghana in the next five years
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