Ghana must install an ethos of strong national leadership if it is to reap the rewards of oil and gas production, according to Emmanuel Emielu, a managing partner of Nigeria's Oil and Gas Soft Skills group.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency in Accra, the training expert said that leadership is crucial at a national, corporate and individual level to ensure that capital investment in Ghana's oil and gas industry is retained within the community.

His comments come as Tullow, a major stakeholder in the Jubilee and Tweneboa fields, prepares to bring its first commercial well on stream.

While Mr Emielu welcomed the opportunities this revenue stream may create, he warned that "money, without responsible, proactive and forward-looking leadership could be problematic for the nation".

Tullow expects to achieve first oil by the end of the fourth quarter, with production scheduled to begin next month.

The company has itself invested considerable sums in local training initiatives to help develop the knowledge base necessary to support the industry.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development