The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation has committed US$4million over a four-year period for the establishment of Professorial Chairs in four public universities, to support research and human capacity development in the extractive industry.
The University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Cape Coast (UCC) and University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) are the beneficiary public universities. The Foundation has also offered over 4,000 scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate studies in Ghanaian tertiary institutions.
“The foundation will continue to support standardised training for Ghanaians. As technology continues to define the extractive sector and shape the industry, it has become imperative now more than ever to do more,” said Dominic Eduah, Executive Director of GNPC Foundation.
He continued: “As a Foundation we take a more holistic approach to shoring-up skills development, and this has informed the rolling-out of several interventions to ensure Ghana raises the human capacity needs of the oil and gas industry”.
According to him, GNPC’s technical and technologically-vested operations place the country in a unique position to contribute in the development of human capacity among Ghanaians to ensure greater participation from citizens and locals – not only in Ghana’s oil and gas exploration activities, but also other science and tech-based sectors of the country.
“This has led to our investments in STEM training, and encouraging interest in this area with programmes such as the STEM Quiz and the Digital Academy at the basic school level,” he added.
Mr. Eduah was speaking at the premiering of a video documentary highlighting the Corporate Social Investment Programmes of GNPC Foundation in Takoradi.
The premiering was attended by individuals, chiefs, chief executives of the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies, the business community, public and private institutions among others.
According to him, GNPC is driven by its vision to positively impact on the lives of Ghanaian people through its three thematic areas of work: Environment and Social Amenities, Economic Empowerment, and Education and Training.
He explained that under the GNPC Foundation, its community and human development agenda is manifested across the entire country: with signature projects in the provision of potable water through the construction of borehole facilities; and educational infrastructure such as fully furnished classroom blocks and laboratories.
Others he mentioned are sanitary facilities in communities, schools and markets; sports and recreational infrastructure, with the development of several community pitches into standard Astroturf facilities across Ghana for the youth.
“We look forward to consolidating in the future, in line with our goal of positively impacting the lives of 10 million Ghanaians over the next five years,” he said.
Eugenia Kusi, Deputy Western Regional Minister, lauded the GNPC Foundation for its developmental projects and also investing in the people. “I urge you to do even more; we want to see about 8,000 scholarships given to the youth,” he added.
