The Managing Editor of the Bilingual Free Press, Alhaji Bature has said the demand of 10 percent of the Oil revenue by Chiefs of the Western region will set a dangerous precedence in the country if it is granted.
He said “if the oil was not found in the Western Region would it [Western Region] come to an end”? Every region in Ghana has peculiar problems but once we have accepted to be a unitary state, we must accommodate some of our problems”.
Chiefs in the Western Region are demanding that 10 percent of Ghana's total oil revenue be dedicated to the development of the area.
According to them, even though the region is endowed with rich resources such as gold, timber and cocoa, it is still ranked as one of the most poverty endemic regions in the country.
They explained that the 10 percent revenue will be used for the infrastructural development of the region which will positively affect the development of the entire country.
Ghana, per her Jubilee partners struck oil in commercial quantities in 2007 in the Western Region.
Speaking on Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Alhaji Bature said the fact that the 10 percent proposed by the Chiefs was not granted, does not mean the Western region would be ignored.
He noted that the only solution to the Western region problem is through good policies but not percentages.
“Government through policies can ensure the people of Western region benefit from the oil revenue just like the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) in the three Northern regions but not percentage allocation because for me it is dangerous”.
He added that “it is true that Western region has suffered and there is the need to address the imbalance but we should not take the peace we have for granted because a peaceful Ghana is better than a wealthy nation in crisis”.
On the issues of the Vice Presidents promise to the Western region, Alhaji Bature noted that “the Vice President did not break any rule because during campaign for elections, you address the peculiar problems of the people and give them assurance and that was what he did.”
Mr Kwabena Agyarko, former CEO of the Food and Drugs Board also a panelist on the programme, said he did not support the 10 percent of Ghana's total oil revenue being demanded by the Western region chiefs but added that “the best thing to do is to establish a special fund to address their problems.”
Adwoa Gyasiwaa/Myjoyonline/Ghana
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