Ama O. Sarpong leads energy transition discussions at the Ghana Oil & Gas Energy Summit

Ama Osei Sarpong led the energy transition experts in a panel discussion at the Oil & Gas, Energy Summit on the theme: Skills Gap Emerging in the Energy Transition from the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector.

This year’s summit, focused on reforming and transforming the country’s oil and gas sector to ensure efficiency while meeting the energy demands of Ghana and the sub-region gathered industry expert presentations from CEOs, managing executives, and entrepreneurs within the Ghanaian energy space.

The discussions, led by Mrs. Ama Osei-Sarpong, highlighted the pressing issue of the growing skills shortage in the global oil and gas business. With the average age of oil and gas workers at approximately 56 years, the imminent retirement of experienced professionals poses a significant challenge in terms of knowledge retention (Energy Digital, 2020). Mrs. Osei-Sarpong emphasized the need for skills and knowledge transfer between the international oil companies (IOCs) and the national workforce in Ghana.

While acknowledging that developing countries like Ghana are not expected to fully transition away from fossil fuels in the near future due to energy accessibility, affordability, and infrastructure limitations, Mrs. Osei-Sarpong urged the sector to focus on equipping the workforce with in-demand energy transition skills. She emphasized the importance of young professionals gaining expertise in energy transition capacity-building skills to help achieve emissions reduction targets set by governments and the industry.

"The energy transition and the race to net zero will significantly impact the professional market, requiring adaptation to new technology and industry trends. It is crucial for the country to redirect government agenda and policies to ensure that the private sector, particularly upstream oil and gas companies, leverage existing skills while equipping their workforce with new ones," Mrs. Osei-Sarpong emphasized.

The panel discussion also covered other pertinent topics, including funding and financing for Ghana's oil and gas sector, a just transition, assessing Ghana's fiscal and regulatory framework, Ghana's energy sector local content policy, and the challenges faced by Ghana as it strives to become a renewable energy powerhouse.

The Ghana Oil & Gas, Energy Summit garnered significant interest from industry experts, including Dr. Isaac Adjei Doku, General Manager of Corporate Affairs at West African Gas Pipeline Co. Ltd., Nana Amoasi VII, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Kwaku Osei-Sarpong, Head for West Africa at RIFE International, Ing. Mahu Seth Agbeve, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Energy, Dr. Edward Owusu-Manu, Supply Chain Manager at Aker Energy Ghana, and Franklin Tettey Attianah, Head of Corporate and Project Finance at Cal Bank.

The inaugural edition of the Ghana Oil & Gas, Energy Summit received endorsements from the Ministry of Energy, Ghana Upstream Petroleum Chamber, and Ghana Investment Promotion Center, underscoring the importance of this event in advancing Ghana's energy sector.