The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ghana is training additional staff in order to ensure it fulfils its oversight responsibilities as the country prepares to achieve first oil.

Irish upstream firm Tullow expects to bring the first well in the offshore Jubilee field on stream in November or December this year and ahead of this, the EPA confirmed that it is increasing its staff numbers.

According to the Ghana News Agency, environment minister Sherry Ayittey told a press conference: "The oil and gas master plan developed by the EPA seeks to integrate environmental management, health and safety and community issues into petroleum sector operations."

She added that the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology is paying particular attention to ensuring that EPA staff are adequately trained to deal with environmental complaints arising from the exploitation of offshore fields.

Ms Ayittey ensured that all energy firms working in the country will be strictly reprimanded in the event of a breach of environmental standards.

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