Ghana's deputy minister for information Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed that the country will invest in new training and development programmes to mitigate against risks of offshore oil spills.

Joy Online reported that, speaking at the maiden Matters Arising executive meeting, Mr Ablakwa confirmed that a core group of skilled workers would be trained in first-line response to offshore oil spills, while unskilled employees would be mobilised to clean coastlines in the event of a spill.

The announcement followed statements from professor Andy Mckay, from the Economics Department of the University of Sussex and Overseas Development Institute in London, who explained that strong concerted action will be needed in areas such as training and development and infrastructural investment to ensure the economic benefits of the country's oil finds are realised.

Irish upstream firm Tullow, which struck oil off the country's coast in an areas now known as the Jubilee field in 2007, expects to achieve first production in the country in the second half of next year.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development