Youth Entrepreneurs Initiative Ghana (YEIG), pro-youth think tank, has petitioned Parliament's  Mines and Energy Committee to reconsider a proposal for the establishment  of University of Petroleum.

YEIG's petition is in reaction to a news report published that the Mines and Energy Committee on December 3, 2013 rejected a proposal by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to establish a University for Petroleum under its approved agreement with AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited for the South Deep Water Tano Block.

"We firmly believe that the position taken by the committee is a misplaced priority and lacks basis to even warrant a public debate", a statement from the youth think tank asserted.

"How can a committee comprising of very learned parliamentarians, all of who have achieved their knowledge and excellence through university education oppose the...need for a centre of petroleum excellence at a time when the country’s key industries are sobbing and desirous of solutions to an inter-generational energy crisis?", the YEIG demanded.

Below is the unedited statement signed by its UK-based President, Franklin Kofi Dorledzi.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS INITIATIVE GHANA (YEIG) PETITIONS THE MINES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT TO ACCEPT PLANS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSITY FOR PETROLEUM.

YEIG has received with utter shock the news report published on citifmonline.com on 3rd December 2013 that The Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament has rejected proposal by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to establish a University for Petroleum under its approved agreement with AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited for South Deep Water Tano Block.

We firmly believe that the position taken by the committee is a misplaced priority and lacks basis to even warrant a public debate.

Fore instance, how can a committee comprising of very learned parliamentarians, all of which have achieved their knowledge and excellence through university education oppose the insatiable need for a centre of petroleum excellence at a time when the country’s key industries are sobbing and desirous of solutions to an inter-generational energy crisis.

How can the committee disregard $15million as a seed fund for establishing a university when in 1992 only $50,000 was all it took to lay a solid foundation for The University of Development Studies which now admits several thousand students with diverse faculties and a medical school through the kind and timely intervention by Former President Dr. Jerry John Rawlings?

Is it not public knowledge that several millions have already sunk by the Ghana Education Trust Fund, The Ministry of Energy and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation on building the capacity of students, management and staff abroad? And in some cases has it not been proven the hardship some beneficiaries go through in order to survive abroad when their funding blocked?

The United Kingdom established several universities and faculties in the era of its major oil discovery since 1970’s, until date these universities continue to provide academic excellence for professionals in the global energy industry. Can Ghana therefore not realize a niche in its small sub region?

There have been recent oil and gas discoveries booming from African nations such as Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Cote D’ Ivoire and more lately Tanzania and Mozambique of which Ghana must capitalise to provide skilled labour. Already, Ghana has been crowned by neighbours as a centre of peace and academic excellence and we still witness a surge of international students in our already crowded private and public universities. This new university will reduce the pressure and cater for diversification of study programmes.

We are in an era where the oil industry in Africa has been racked by critical challenges that have hinder production, key of which is unavailability or shortage of professionals like petroleum, marine, subsea and well service engineers, geologists, oil information technologists, petroleum lawyers, commercial oil managers among lots while many older professionals are near retirement.

This is an opportunity in Ghana’s development when we must utilise our very little oil wealth towards a sustainable future by safe guarding our energy industry by providing the needed labour of which a University for Petroleum will ensure. The University for Petroleum will harness potentials from all over the world while Ghana becomes a contact point for petroleum skill development in Africa, a continent that controls over 250billion proven and probable oil reserves accounting for 8.8% of world total with more than 500 oil companies and annual investment of close to $2 trillion.

By 2015, Ghana will join the world’s top 50 oil producers and in later years the body of Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC). Ghana will become centre of attention and professionals once again will be required to fight our interests in such times.  A University for Petroleum will invest in depth research and development of our oil and gas industry which would eventually emanate into more oil and gas discoveries and increase of our sovereign wealth.

The Mines and Energy Committee must be bear in mind that oil and gas will continue to be the most prestigious commodities in the world for many decades therefore a University for Petroleum will challenge our present large unemployed youth to invest in their knowledge for a sustainable future.

Youth Entrepreneurs Initiative Ghana therefore sees no need for The Mines and Energy Committee to reject a sustainable project with ill informed facts. YEIG appeals to and entreats parliament as a matter of urgency to summon this issue to a full house discussion. We appeal to The Education Committee of Parliament to establish its presence in this ensuing matter. Likewise we appeal to GNPC to remain firm and resolute as this issue is debated among general public. We are also calling on all interested civil institutions such as Organized Youth Organisations, National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Ghana Oil and Gas Club, Peace Council, Labour Union, Our Legendary Ex Presidents, Statesmen, Loyal Citizens, Council of State, Traditional House of Chiefs and Queens, Media all and sundry to ensure that parliament reaches a consensus that will safeguard our future through establishment of The University for Petroleum.

YEIG will continue to represent the interests of the youth in ensuring that they are disconnected between present opportunities and their futures.

Signed.

Franklin Kofi Dorledzi

President,

Youth Entrepreneurs Initiative Ghana

www.yeighana.org

Mob: +44-744-222-2820

Email: youthenterpreneursghana@yahoo.com

              f.dorledzi@rgu.ac.uk