Ghana's vice-president has called for the Iranian government to provide more oil and gas training for the African country's students attending courses on the subject.

John Mahama urged Iranian officials to expand a scholarship package offered to academics from Ghana as it prepares to join the international oil-producing community.

Vice-president Mahama also asked a visiting Iranian delegation to consider the potential for a joint venture between his nation and the Iranian Oil Corporation for onshore and offshore natural resources facilities.

The high-ranking official, who was elected in 2009, said more guidance from Iran could help to bridge the gap in technical knowledge possessed by Ghanaian students in order for them to better manage the country's growing oil industry in the future.

Mahama made these comments while receiving a visit from the delegation - led by Iran's agricultural jihad minister Sadigh Khalilian - at Osu Castle, where the two countries discussed a number of initiatives to boost bilateral relations.

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