The Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) is pressuring the Ghanaian government to introduce tough new local content legislation to ensure the domestic labour force benefits from oil and gas production.

Ghana Web reports that the group is urging the government to move towards a target of 90 per cent local content by 2020.

Key to achieving this target will be an extensive investment in oil and gas training initiatives, both on the part of the government and private energy companies working in the country.

Tullow, which discovered oil in Ghana in 2007 and is set to bring the first field on-stream in November or December this year, has already demonstrated a commitment to providing employment for local workers with a host of training initiatives.

Speaking in Accra, Dr Osei Boeh-Ocansey, director-general of PEF, said private and public sector groups must work together in the provision of oil and gas training if the country is to achieve the 90 per cent goal.

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