All Is Not Well At Atuabo

Atuabo is just one of several small communities dotted on the coast of the Western Region but its name over the last few years has been dangling in the media for some obvious reasons- it hosts Ghana's first-ever Gas Processing Plant. The construction of a specialized oil and gas free-port in this same community is also underway.

As a result of these two monumental projects, a week hardly slips through without Atuabo making headlines in major media outlets. It has been described as the panacea to our current energy crisis (dumsor), an avenue for wealth creation and job opportunities for the people of Atuabo and the nation at large.

Recently, some five Members of Parliament sued government over certain clauses in the Government of Ghana-Lonrho Free Port Agreement which they believed could cripple the Takoradi Port. This created a whole new discussion and brought the name Atuabo once more flying in the media.

Notwithstanding, Atuabo has largely been in the news for very positive reasons and this has put the town's name on both the national and global maps. For the people of Atuabo, they do not only revel in the sudden popularity given to their town but also the economic benefits they stand to gain from the projects.

Right from the time the gas plant was announced to be sited in this town, many of the locals knew it was a life-changing opportunity. My interaction with some of them during my visit at the time revealed a single message to me- they expect nothing less than development. Yes, development! That was the general expectation not only in Atuabo but among many residents of the Western Region.

The verbal battle through press conferences between the people of Atuabo and Domunli, a community initially selected for the project, was a manifestation of a clear “fight for development”. The chiefs and people of Domunli had then expressed their dissatisfaction over the relocation of the project to Atuabo. They felt being stabbed in the back, cheated and denied a glorious opportunity to transform their lives for the better. I remember how I had to rush to the Western Regional Press Center one hot afternoon to cover one of such press conferences which was announced at a very short notice. However, that battle eventually died off following government's resolve to build the plant at Atuabo stating that it is the most conducive location for the project.

Barely four years down the line with these events still fresh on my mind, I decided to revisit Atuabo two weeks ago to find out how the gas project was impacting on the community. As I journeyed to the place, I had a moderate expectation about the economic fortunes the project might have brought to the community because I was conscious of the fact that the gas plant commenced operation not quite long ago.

Again the construction of the free-port is yet to take off therefore it couldn't have brought about any major impact. However, I was expecting some few positive changes after my last visit four years ago. On my way, my expectation was further gingered when I passed by the beautifully constructed Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) edifice at Anochie and then finally the well-structured gas processing plant which followed some few meters away.

But, to my utmost astonishment on arrival, there I saw lying the much-talked about Atuabo in its same old state. As I alighted from the vehicle and walked along the main road which split the town into two sections, I could hardly spot any new shop, chop bar or even a lively lotto kiosk.

On my left hand side of the road, I counted five tables with cassava, plantain, sugar cane, oranges and vegetables arranged on them, ready for sale. That's the only market center in the town and after four years, nothing seems to have changed.

On my right hand, I spotted some few young men playing draft, a game popularly known in local parlance as “dami” while others sat in front of their houses either engaged in a chat or sitting idle. I realized that most of the houses were either made of mud or bamboo with those close to the road filmed with dust, apparently from plying vehicles.

Just as it was four years back, I noticed that aside the major road cutting through the town, no other road had been tarred. The entire town looked old and quiet. I watched with much amusement and curiosity.

I then decided to speak to some of the residents on the gas project only to find out that their initial expectation had been dwindled significantly. Most of the residents who spoke to me said they have no hope of deriving any meaningful benefit from the project saying that people from the community were not engaged during the construction of the project neither did the project boosted economic activities in the area in any way. According to them, aside the Assembly Member for the Area who was hired as labourer during the construction, no other person from Atuabo was hired.

Some women also narrated to me how they gave out their farms for the project and were now facing hard times. They claim a paltry of between GHC 300 to GHC600 were paid as compensation to each farmer for crops destroyed, rendering them now jobless.

Indeed, frustration was drawn on all over their faces. As I listened to their individual stories, the more I pitied them. One thing was clear to me- all is not well at Atuabo. The picture of high economic benefits from the gas project for residents of Atuabo painted in the media over the last few years is far from reality.

So far, the people have nothing to show for the gas facility. After giving out their farms for the construction of the plant, they currently sit home jobless. They are being impoverished by the day and there are no indications that their situation would change any sooner. The promise by Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) to provide jobs for these local folks is yet to be fulfilled.

One may caution that it may be too early to make conclusive evaluation of the economic benefits the project has brought to Atuabo since the facility is yet to move into full swing. But, I am a believer of the Akan proverb which says that the beginning of every game usually show how exciting the game will turn up at the end. If the people of Atuabo cannot be hired as even labourers for the construction of the plant, where stand their hope of getting employment in the running of the plant?

However, it is not too late for GNGC to act. It is in their interest to solve this unfortunate situation. GNGC must do everything possible within its remit to carve and promote a peaceful and harmonious relationship between it and its host communities. For as it stands now, all is not well at Atuabo.

I've said it!

By Marlvin-James Dadzie
marlvinjamesd@gmail.com

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