BACKGROUND
The GNPC Professorial Chair is a novelty initiative championed by leadership and management of GNPC. The notion of chairs in the four (4) universities namely;

� University of Ghana � Petroleum Geoscience
� Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology � Petroleum Engineering
� University of Cape Coast � Petroleum Commerce
� University of Mines and Technology � Mining Engineering

is to serve as a panache to the research and teaching challenges currently faced in the various faculties. The University of Ghana � College of Basic and Applied Sciences (Department of Earth Science and School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences) is one of such beneficiaries of this noble initiative.

The drive behind this initiative is to further deepen educational research in these institutions and build broad � based capacity to ensure sustainable development. It is also the belief that, this initiative will eventually bridge the gap in both Local content and capacity building in Ghana. The outcomes of these chairs are tailor-made to produce graduates who will participate in and encourage developing the oil and gas sector in a relevant manner. By that, structures are being put in place for the idea of GNPC to be a stand-alone Corporation, in line with exploratory, development, production, disposal, pricing and capacity building to be a reality in no time.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this meeting is as a result of the MoU signed by the two parties � GNPC and University of Ghana�s College of Applied and Basic Sciences (Department of Earth Science, Physical and Mathematical Sciences). The MoU mandates the parties to �strengthen Petroleum Geoscience Research and Education capacity at LEGON to support the optimal exploration, delineation and development of Ghana�s hydrocarbon resources. For this reason, the parties agree to establish a Research Chair in Petroleum Geoscience at LEGON. The major objective of the Chair would be to facilitate the Sustainable Development of Ghana�s hydrocarbon deposits while providing a reference point for developing similar Technical capacity in Ghana.� It is also an opportunity for both parties to collaborate, come out with action points and debrief issues that will drive the process in a timely, practical and effective way.

The Scope of Activities of the Professorial Chair in Petroleum Geoscience are as follows:
� Establish technical partnerships with leading Universities and industry leaders within and beyond the African continent.
� Establish teaching and learning exchange programmes with partner universities and institutions.
� Engage industry to establish state of the art research laboratory in Petroleum Geoscience program at Legon.
� Coordinate the graduate level Petroleum Geoscience program at Legon.
� Coordinate the setting up of a Centre of Excellence in Ghana and Africa for producing world-class professionals in the field of Geology and Geophysics to provide innovative solutions to the mining and petroleum industries.
� Engage industry in the training of the next generation of Petroleum Geoscience Professionals.
� Seek further funding from industry to support faculty development and refresher training of faculty members.
� Organize or facilitate the organization of conferences and workshops to discuss temporary research and technological development in Petroleum Geoscience.

Additionally, the Chair is also required to deliver presentations of activities and on the scope of work of the Geoscience Chair to stakeholders.