Ghanaian universities must frequently review their programmes and research areas to speak to the development needs of Ghana’s energy sector, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Dr Kofi Koduah Sarpong has urged.

He stressed the importance of Ghanaian universities forging partnerships with well-acclaimed energy-oriented institutions overseas with the object of positively impacting Ghana’s energy sector.

“Ghanaian universities must partner with their counterparts worldwide that have developed programmes in energy and tap into their rich curriculum,” the GNPC boss charged.

Dr Sarpong threw the challenge when he addressed management, staff and congregants at the Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) in Accra over the weekend on that university’s 22nd congregation.

He spoke on the theme ‘Ghana’s Energy Policy and National Development: The Role of Tertiary Institutions’.

GNPC establishes research chairs in varsities

Dr Sarpong disclosed that in line with government’s aspirations and efforts in the energy space, GNPC had established research chairs in four public universities.

The chairs are for Geoscience at the University of Ghana; Petroleum Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Petroleum Commerce at the University of Cape Coast; and Mining Engineering at the University for Mines and Technology.

GNPC, he announced, was providing facilities for the establishment of an Institute for Petroleum Studies at UMAT to engage in cutting-edge research.

“In November 2017, the government launched the Accelerated Capacity Development Programme under the co-ordination of the Petroleum Commission. That programme recently received an initial support of US$4.5 million from Aker Energy of Norway,” Dr Sarpong stated.

The CEO of the state oil company told universities that “the onus now lies on tertiary institutions in Ghana to take advantage of these interventions and develop innovative curricula and research that will feed the energy sector for sustainable development for Ghana”.

Varsities must build capacity of Ghanaian energy professionals
For successful delivery of the agenda laid out in Ghana’s energy policy, tertiary institutions should run short executive courses to train Ghanaians in organisational governance and management in the energy sector, Dr Sarpong intimated.

“The sector is so vibrant and complex that it must be managed by professionally trained and experienced executives and board of directors,” he stressed.

Dr Sarpong lauded GTUC for partnering with many universities, including those from Europe, noting that “it is my belief that GTUC is benefitting from research and curriculum development through these partnerships”.

The GNPC boss told staff, management and students of the university that it was the focus of government to invest in energy-related research, development, and innovative activities that were of national relevance.

“Government is facilitating the leveraging of relevant local, regional and international expertise in support of energy-related research, development, and innovation with relevant entities,” Dr Sarpong stated.