A critical shortfall in skills needs to be addressed if Ghana is to capitalise on the recent oil find, the country's minister for ports, harbours and railways has warned.

Speaking at the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi warned that when service providers do not receive adequate training and development, they serve as a stumbling block to progress because they do not appreciate the wider economic agenda.

According to the Ghanaian Chronicle, he told delegates to prioritise the training and retraining of staff in line with the requirements of the oil industry.

"It must also understand and explore the upstream and downstream linkages and the various activities that produce value in the form of products and services delivered to the industry and the consumer," he urged.

GIFF was formed in 1985 and aims to facilitate effective logistical operations through the advocacy of improved trade processes.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development