A Scottish Ferry company is taking a lead role in helping the development of the oil industry in Ghana.

Management training firm 20/20 Business Insight Ltd has worked with two other Scottish businesses—Aberdeenshire firm Oil and Development Corporation (OGDC) and goodpractice.net of Edinburgh—to develop an e-learning course, which will be run in association with Ghana University.

The internet-based course will teach Ghanaians about project management, particularly large-scale developments in the petrochemical industry.

It is hoped that, if successful, the course will be rolled out across Africa.

Ghana is now recognised as one of the most exciting emerging oil and gas markets in west Africa. The newly-discovered Jubilee field was one of the largest finds in the region and has estimated reserves of 1.8 billion barrels of oil.

John Holland, president of OGDC of Ellon, said, “We have developed a course which provides personnel in Ghana and west Africa with a basic understanding of project management tools and techniques to allow them to understand their project role and deliver more effectively large projects in west Africa.

“Because of local employment regulations we have recognised that there is a large skills gap in project management delivery which must be addressed.

“We are providing an innovative solution.”

Formed in 2002, 20/20 Business Insight has grown from a three-man operation delivering management training to Aberdeen energy companies, primarily in sub sea construction.

It has since expanded to 12 full-time staff and has delivered training and consultancy services to a global client base.

Operations director Tony Marks said, “This e-learning course is designed to clarify and explain the basic aspects of a project and project management to give participants confidence in a project environment.”