Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah,  Minister of Energy and Petroleum Resources, has reiterated government's resolve to continue building the capacity of Ghanaian Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) to have a major stake in the oil and gas industry.
This, he said, is to ensure the sustainability of the local content policy, and also make SMEs competitive with International Oil Companies(OIC).
Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, Deputy Western Regional Minister,  said this on behalf of the Minister at the maiden Ghana SMEs Certification ceremony in Takoradi.
Twenty-five SMEs which underwent an intensive six-month formal training from September 2013, by the Enterprises Development Centre (EDC) received certificates of completion.
Mr. Buah said good local content and participation must be based on valuation, in a bid to ensure that the SMEs are imbued with the relevant skills and technical know-how to thrive in the oil and gas industry.
He commended the centre for registering 240 SMEs so far, and having identified and allotted  237 opportunities to SMEs in the industry.
The Minister asked the SMEs to ensure that the relevant feedback is given in their line of duty and also set clear goals in order to thrive.
Mr J B Brown, President of the Ghana SMEs, stressed the need for education and training in entrepreneurial development, and lauded the EDC for taking  a commanding lead to equip SMEs and make them more vibrant in the country.
He underscored the need to ensure effective ways of managing SMEs to have a comparative advantage in the oil and gas industry.
Mr. Brown thanked the EDC for their relevant modules of preparing SMEs to improve upon their business acumen in order to thrive in a globally competitive market.
Mr Nuertey Adzeman, Executive Director for the Ghana Oil and Gas Service Personnel Association (GOGSPA), said the training received by the SMEs is of a standard quality, to meet the growing demands in the oil and gas industry.
He called for regular training to further equip SMEs in the sector.
Later in an interview, the Project Co-ordinator in charge of Ghana SMEs Local Content Policy, Mr. Isaac Ettie Amihere, said four of the 25 companies certified,  have so far been engaged in the oil and gas industry.