Siemens Ghana, a subsidiary of Siemens, the global energy experts, has launched an Oil and Gas sector training programme in Accra aimed at building the capacity of Ghanaians to enhance the in-dustry’s expertise. This training forms part of Siemens Ghana’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s economic growth particularly in their key focus area; energy.

The training programme is a Siemens Ghana local content CSR initiative stemming from the local content guidelines of the Petroleum Commission (PC) which requires global brands to partner local firms to improve the energy sector.

Mr. Edmund Acheampong, MD of Siemens Ghana said “Siemens takes Corporate Social Responsi-bility seriously. We are also serious about putting the right people in the workforce thus; we are par-ticularly interested in training, not just in Ghana, but in all Siemens’ markets. This training therefore fits into the Siemens’ overall goal of training people in the industry, for the industry.”

The programme is also a collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the entity responsible for building the Oil & Gas sector in Ghana. Thus, Siemens is promoting the objec-tive of GNPC by training people with skills required to build the industry.

The 9-month training programme, which commenced in October, 2015 is set to be completed by June this year. Altogether, 13 students, who were shortlisted from 300 applications received from all over the country, will receive training in Oil and Gas operations such as First Aid, Engineering, Mechanical Skills, Project Management, Operational Skills, among others.

Tutors for the training come from both academia and industry with international and local experience to provide a rich cur-ricula for learning.

Mr. Edmund Acheampong explained that “we are particularly committed to promoting local con-tent, skills development and job creation, in close collaboration with our local partners. As such, be-yond providing training for these young Ghanaian professionals, Siemens will employ up to 3 out-standing students in varied capacities after completion of the training.”

Siemens, which is currently active in over 200 countries, has a 165 – year track record in engineering excellence, innovation, quality and reliability. Mr. Acheampong stated the company also has a deep understanding of Ghana’s current and future energy needs and is perfectly placed to assist in ad-dressing them.

“Siemens has been doing business in Africa for more than 150 years and we have made positive im-pacts in every market we find ourselves in. Ghana is one of Siemens’ key markets and we want our people to know we are here to stay and contribute to the growth of the energy sector,” he added.

Siemens Ghana announced its presence in Ghana last year when the company hosted key stakehold-ers to a VIP event where it announced several investment projects outlined for Ghana’s energy sec-tor through the provision of infrastructure as well as genuine and sustainable social upliftment.