Universities, Others Vital To Oil Production
Universities, research institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations are critical elements in the nation's quest of producing and sustaining oil resources, Professor Samuel Sefa Dedeh at the Engineering Faculty of the University Ghana, Legon has said.
Ghana is preparing to produce oil in commercial quantities from next year and according to the university don, academic and research institutions must become important agents to offer directions for human survival.
Presently, the industry is faced with the lack of human expertise to manage critical areas of production and management of oil.
Professor Sefa Dedeh called on the universities to play a major role in training personnel for the sector.
Delivering the key note address on the topic, “Oil in Ghana: challenges and the way forward,” Dr. Sefa Dede said there was the need to balance human needs so that the needs can be met with the protection of the natural environment in the present and the future.
“Harnessing science, technology and human values to implement economic and social benefits are critical,” he emphasized.
The Dean of Engineering Faculty opined that concepts of sustainable management include Socio/Economics, Economics /Environment and Environment/Social issues, adding that policy makers must factor in these concepts as they draft or review the oil document.
He emphasized the need to recognize knowledge and technology in modern economics, noting, “As we strategize as a nation, we should recognize the role of science and technology.”
On the mission of the University of Ghana regarding the oil find, he noted that the outcome of the summit would ensure that the faculty of engineering sciences uses marketing strategy to determine the needs of the energy sector through consultation.
With regard to the short-term professional development training programme, he said that the sector requires strong collaboration with the private sector and other universities.
The two-day progarmme, which is being organized by DAAD Germany in collaboration with the International Management of Resources and Environment of the Technische Universitat Freiberg and other partners, would end today.
Several Ghanaians who were graduates of German universities were present at the conference.
Today's seminar would see Prof Dr. Jan Bongaerts, TU Freiberg and Okyeame Ampadu-Agyei of Tullow speaking on the topics including oil, natural resources, economic theory and evidence and corporate social responsibility of oil companies in the upstream.
By Charles Nixon Yeboah