Mr. Peter Azumah, Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) said the institution will demand that all operators in Ghana's oil sector operate on internationally acceptable standards.
He said the sector is new in Ghana and to ensure that the country gains the most with fewer crises, it is important that potential companies are scrutinised to make way for those who exhibit acceptable standards.
Mr. Azumah said these when he led board members of the GMA to inspect the shore logistics base of Tullow Oil in Takoradi and Sekondi in the Western Region over the weekend.
"We don't want to lower standards in this new field and even if we as a country do not have the requisite standard, the International Maritime Organisations (IMO) standards are available for all", he stressed.
Mr. Azumah said the use of more local content and the training of many Ghanaian youths in the oil and gas industry should be a priority of the various companies in the sector.
He said the GMA is working closely with the various institutions to prevent marine accidents and traffic.
Mr. Nicolas Hoting, Logistics Base Manager of Tullow Oil Ghana, said the shore base activities started on February 18, 2008 with three people but now has a total of 282 out of which 16 are foreigners.
He said the first phase of work which was done at the Takoradi Air Force Station can last between 15 to 20 years and also has the capacity for the handling of aviation fuel, water, storage and industrial access roads which is separate from the roads of the Air Force.
Mr. Hoting said career path training, mentorship programmes and in-service training has been developed to train the Ghanaian youth to be able to work in the sector.
He said international experts are occasionally invited to assist in programmes that are beyond the reach of Tullow.
Captain George Asubonteng, Chairman of the GMA board commended Tullow for its standards and zeal towards Ghana's oil industry.
He called for constant and reliable flows of information to Ghanaians to enable them know exactly what is happening in the sector.
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