Takoradi, Feb.7, GNA -- The Rector of the Takoradi Polytechnic, the R= ev Prof Daniel Nyarko, has said the polytechnic would soon introduce a High National Diploma Welding course that would enable graduates to undertake repair works on oil pipelines on the ocean floor. He said the Polytechnic had already developed a curriculum for the course adding that it also had support from the Tullow Oil and the Canadian High Commission. Rev Prof Nyarko said this at an orientation programme for 30 fresh men and women for the Chartered Institute of logistics and Transport (CILT) certificate programme at Takoradi. He said such a course had become significant following the discovery o= f oil and gas in the country.

The course is being run jointly by the Polytechnic in collaboration with the CILT. The Rector said the course is designed to equip professionals in the supply chain industry with the requisite skills that would enable them play key managerial roles in the emerging oil and gas industry. Rev Prof Nyarko said the Polytechnic would also collaborate with the University of Derby in the United Kingdom to introduce a master program in Electrical and Electronics by the end of this year. He said the management of the polytechnic would not rest on its oars i= n offering courses that would put the country on the proper pedestal in the technological field.

The Vice President of the CILT, Mr Jacob Adoko, said the emerging oil and gas industry required skilled and professional people to transport good= s and services at the right time to the right place at the right cost. He said CILT believed in quality transport services and would therefor= e train people to meet the demand of oil and gas sector. He said the institute had 33,000 memberships in 33 countries worldwide= .. Mr Adoko said the institute had a collaboration agreement with Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA) and had trained over 700 people in industry and commerce. Some of the subjects being run by the institute included Managing the Logistics and Transport Environment, Managing Resources, Freight Operations= , Fleet Management and Ports Operations among others.