The Petroleum Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to developing local technical capacity in the energy sector by hosting a strategic meeting with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC). The meeting, led by the Ag. Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle, is to renew the collaborative partnership between the two institutions and advance discussions on the establishment of a specialised technical training facility at GAEC’s premises in Accra.
The facility is expected to provide internationally certified training in welding, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and rope access — skills that are increasingly in demand across Ghana’s extractive and industrial sectors.
In a presentation delivered during the meeting, GAEC outlined its ongoing efforts to address Ghana’s critical skills gap in industrial welding and inspection. The Commission referenced an earlier proposed project to the Commission, to establish a nationally recognised training centre to support the development of a nuclear power plant and other high skill infrastructure projects.
The GAEC team explained that while Ghana continues to witness increased industrial activity including oil and gas exploration and high-rise construction, the country still relies heavily on foreign technical labour due to a shortage of locally certified professionals. The implementation of Ghana’s Local Content Law has further underscored the urgency of building local capacity in technical fields.
The Petroleum Commission, while commending GAEC for its foresight and initiative, emphasized the need for strategic coordination to ensure efficient use of resources. The Commission advised that any new welding training centre must be harmonized with the Ghana Welding Bureau’s programme to prevent duplication and ensure industry wide alignment. “This partnership represents a critical step toward building a sustainable local workforce equipped with globally competitive technical skills,” said Ms. Hardcastle.“We must collaborate across institutions to ensure our efforts are well aligned and produce lasting value for Ghana’s industrial development.”
Given the high costs associated with establishing and maintaining technical training centres, the Commission stressed the importance of pooling resources and building synergies across institutions. It proposed a broader industry collaboration involving stakeholders such as the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to support the development of a national Welding Centre of Excellence under the Ghana Welding Bureau.
The meeting ended with both parties acknowledging that the collaboration had the potential to transform Ghana’s technical training landscape with a workforce capable of supporting the country’s ambitious energy and infrastructure projects if well developed. They further agreed to a revised MoU to be presented to the Boards of both entities for approval, paving the way for implementation.
This renewed collaboration between the Commission and GAEC marks a significant step toward building a skilled and internationally certified local workforce capable of supporting Ghana’s strategic infrastructure and energy goals.
Petroleum Commission and Atomic Energy Commission set to Deepen Technical Training Partnership
