Some Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the Western Region are receiving training on the fundamentals of visual inspections in welding to be able to utilise the job opportunities offered by Ghana’s budding Oil and Gas industry.

The programme is also to ensure that businesses, especially those offering welding services in the oil and gas market, use the appropriate specification and standards measurable to world standards.

It is being organised by Pyxera Global, under the Ghana Supply Chain Programme, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID).

Mr. Daniel Kwarkyi, Certified Wielding Inspector and educator, who is a facilitator at the five-day training session, said the welding industry operated on codes and specifications, explaining, “Without the appropriate certification and codes it will be difficult to achieve results”.

He recommended that Ghana must reexamine Technical Education and support it with the needed legal and policy backing in order to deliver.

“The welding industry is one important sector, especially with the oil find, therefore, a proper policy direction is necessary,” he said.

Mr. Kwarkyi, who is also a member of the American Welding Society, runs the Takoradi Welding and Testing Centre.

Ms. Majorie Janczak, Programmes Officer of Pyxera Global, said the SMEs’ capacity building programme was to enable small businesses to compete for contract in the oil and gas industry, and to halt the importation of skills.

Ms Janczak said the training was also to boost the confidence level of businesses, and improve their knowledge in helping to ensure that the right business approaches were adopted for growth and development.

The Pyxera Global provides a suite of services in Integrated Community Development that draw together a diverse range of institutions to achieve sustainable development outcomes by enhancing the inherent capabilities of local communities and businesses.