Residents ‘Fight’ Against Planned Oil Exploration In Keta Basin

Residents within the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region are kicking against a planned exploration of oil by Swiss African Oil Company in the Keta basin.

According to them, such a venture will be detrimental to the environment and residents in the area.

The Swiss African Oil Company was awarded a contract for seismic exploration in the Volta Basin in 2016.

Swiss African Oil Company, in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, subsequently held a stakeholders engagement to sensitise locals along the Coast in the Volta region on the long-term benefits they will derive from oil exploration.

Residents protesting planned oil exploration
However, Keta residents who are against the plan say thousands of people and their livelihood will be at risk if the oil exploration plan is executed.

“This Keta basin has been there for ages. Our great grandfathers came in here and used it. If they start this exploration, there will be pollution because oil and water are not compatible,” one resident complained.

“Oil exploration in this fragile ecosystem will not in anyway benefit the citizens of Anlo land. Where oil is exploited in a river land area, the citizens suffer. They become so impoverished,” another resident said.

The residents have petitioned their Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Seth Yomevu over the planned exploration.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr Yomevu acknowledged receiving the petition, adding that a committee will be set up to “read through and then subsequently take a decision.”

Meanwhile the Public Relations Officer for the Swiss African Oil Company, Mensah Peter Dagbi had indicated that his outfit did due diligence before deciding to embark on the project.

“Before the initial activity started we actually entered the community and held a series of stakeholder meetings with residents.”

He was however quick to add that his outfit will have to engage with residents again to educate and “iron out differences.”