Regional Minister warns against frequent oil/gas workshops

Sekondi, Dec. 25 GNA - Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister, on Wednesday expressed concern about the organization of workshops on oil and gas in the Metropolis under the pretext of helping the youth to secure the sector.

"The youth have been anxious to have jobs with the oil companies and some people are organizing workshops and courses, which they know may not earn them job in the industry," he said.

Mr Aidoo was speaking at a press soiree organised by the Western Regional Coordinating Council in the region at Sekondi. He appealed to the media to earnestly check the backgrounds of workshops' organisers before any promotion was done for them. "This is not to censor anybody but it is a plea to ensure that our people do not fall prey to these scams," Mr Aidoo said. He noted that the anxiety and expectation of citizens especially the youth on the oil and gas have reached a dazzling height. Therefore, Mr Aidoo urged media personnel to inform and educate the youth to look elsewhere for employment since there was very little probability that the oil companies would employ them. Mr Aidoo said the youth could earn a living through food crop production, aquaculture and other allied services. "I believe the media should lead the crusade to educate people to concentrate on what they know best, be it cultivation, animal husbandry, food crops among others", he said.

Mr Aidoo said as media men, your function must transcend political, ethical or religious boundaries to dutifully inform, educate and entertain. He urged the media to always put the interest of the region and the nation first adding "it does no good to rush to your microphones or printing houses when the story is either not well researched and has the propensity to incite the public to be at each other's throat with the intent of getting a scoop".

Mr George Amihere Naykene, the western Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), called on the media to build capacity for the oil and gas sector. The media, he said, must expose charlatans, who organises two-three weeks workshop, on oil and gas to assist the youth gain employment in the sector. "Check if these organisers are accredited before you take their advertisement", he said.