Accra: The Women in Oil and Gas (WIOG) has intensified efforts to equip young people, particularly women, with the practical skills and certifications required to enter Ghana's oil and gas industry.
According to Ghana News Agency, WIOG began its youth-focused training programme in 2016 after identifying a major gap in industry readiness, not in academic qualifications but in awareness of the certification and safety requirements needed to work in the sector.
Speaking at an orientation workshop for members of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) in Accra, Mrs. Abundant Hayford Aggrey, National President of WIOG, emphasized that the oil and gas industry is largely certification-driven. She highlighted that even junior high school graduates who obtain the requisite safety and professional certifications could access employment opportunities.
Mrs. Aggrey explained that WIOG initially trained community youth selected through local authorities, providing them with practical instruction delivered by certified professionals. Although participants initially received internal certificates, many later secured internship placements with major oil and gas companies, prompting WIOG to formalize the process through internationally recognized certification.
The programme later expanded to the University of Ghana, Legon, where WIOG partnered with the university's counseling department to train 196 students. Of those, about 50 to 55 met the strict code, ethics, and safety standards required to obtain Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) certification. These students are now properly certified and qualified, with many currently undertaking their national service.
Mrs. Aggrey noted that the initiative had gained national attention, aligning with the government's Presidential Oil and Gas Absorption Initiative aimed at training and employing more young people under the 24-hour economy agenda. As part of the expansion, WIOG has allocated 400 training slots to NUGS to ensure nationwide representation, while additional slots have been reserved for traditional authorities, religious leaders, and the general public. The selection process will be merit-based and non-political.
She cautioned that while the government may facilitate employment opportunities, only candidates who meet industry certification standards would be allowed to proceed. Future engagements will include public auditions to assess applicants' knowledge and suitability before admission into the programme. The Presidency has directed the Energy Ministry, through the NPA, to fully sponsor trainees, with the Ghana Navy providing pre-certification survival and swimming training to prepare them for offshore work.
Mrs. Aggrey reaffirmed WIOG's commitment to building a competent, certified workforce capable of supporting Ghana's growing oil and gas industry, while opening doors for women and youth across the country.
Mr. Rashid Ibrahim (Esq), National President of NUGS, expressed concern over youth unemployment in Ghana as a growing challenge that could pose a national security threat if not urgently addressed. He stressed the need for practical, industry-focused interventions to reverse the trend. Securing employment opportunities for students after graduation remains a top priority of his leadership, and he welcomed the WIOG initiative, which seeks to train young people, including graduates and certificate holders, with the aptitude to work in the sector.
Mr. Ibrahim added that NUGS was engaged by the leadership of WIOG to support the programme, which aims to equip beneficiaries with internationally recognized certifications to prepare them for careers in the industry, aligning with NUGS' objective of bridging the gap between academic training and employability. WIOG plans to train about 700 young people nationwide, starting with an initial cohort of 200 participants from the Greater Accra Region, with optimism that beneficiaries will be retained in the sector after training, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to Ghana's oil and gas industry.