Armed Forces Warn Fishermen Off Oil Rig

THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) High Command has asked fishermen operating within the Jubilee Oil Field in the Western Region to desist from fishing within three nautical miles from the drilling rig.

A statement by the High Command said 'any group of fishermen which ignores the warning does so at great risk to their lives, and if arrested would be prosecuted accordingly.'

It said since the announcement of the oil discovery in the country, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its partners (Kosmos and Tullow), have been undertaking community education programmes to raise awareness of the fishing community on the dangers of fishing within the discovery area.

'Unfortunately, the fishermen have blatantly ignored the advice given them at the stakeholders meetings and the continuing community education programme,' the statement said.

It said the Navy in their recent patrol, retrieved fishing gear from around the rig, adding that it was an indication that fishermen operating within the oil discovery area continue to interfere with petroleum exploration activities.

The drilling operation has reached a stage where the wells need to be tested to allow the oil to flow to the surface, saying 'this operation is dangerous as it would involve intense fire, fuel, oil, smoke and fumes.'

'Most importantly, there could be explosions that may cause a major disaster involving the loss of life and property.'

The statement expressed the hope that the public and especially, all fishing communities in the Western Region would heed the warning to enable GNPC and its partners to continue with their operations without any preventable loss of life and property.