The Ghanaian government needs to introduce a framework to ensure that local workers can find employment in the country's burgeoning oil and gas industry, the general-secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Kofi Asamoah has claimed.

According to the Accra Mail, the TUC leader stressed that the government will need to invest heavily in oil and gas training to ensure that local workers are excluded from the wealth the discovery of oil will bring.

Irish oil and gas major Tullow announced this week that it is on course to achieve first oil in the final two months of the year, following a highly successful drilling campaign.

Mr Asamoah stressed that the find will provide strong opportunities for employment and education, but added that the government must impose a strong, comprehensive regulatory framework to avoid missing out on these benefits.

He added: "We must take keen interest in occupational health and safety issues and not only concern ourselves with bread and butter issues."

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