Commentary on the public hearing on the oil find

All being well Ghana will begin her first ever large scale oil exploitation in the Nzema area of the Western Region next year. What has been agitating the minds of most Ghanaians and more especially the communities within the catchment area of the project is whether it will be a blessing or a curse to them.

No doubt the extraction of the oil will bring about a lot of social, economic and physical environmental impact on the communities in the catchment area and these need to be addressed before the project takes off. 

It is for this reason that the current public hearing being organized by the Tullow Oil Company and other Oil Companies in Collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Municipal and District Assemblies in the operational area to educate, sensitize and seek the views of the people is most welcome.

Its probably a testimony that the Oil Companies are sensitive to the plight and  welfare of the people who would be affected by the project. It also demonstrates the Oil Companies readiness to cooperate and work with the communities to ensure the success of their operations. As key stakeholders, the people need to know what they stand to benefit from the project and challenges as well as hazards they are likely to encounter.  

Of course the people in turn need full assurances from the EPA and the Oil Companies regarding the measures put in place or yet to be instituted to mitigate the effects Oil find on their communities. The forum has so far been held at Half Assini, Agona Nkwanta and Axim in the Jomoro, Ahanta West Districts and the Nzema East Municipality, and must be sustained to keep the people constantly abreast of what is going on.

It is hoped the public hearings will yield the expected results and that the presence of the Oil Companies in the catchment area will help accelerate the pace of development of the affected communities and raise the socio-economic life of the people in particular and  the country in general.

By: J. K. Essien, Information Services Department (ISD) AXIM.