Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Half-Assini
The Chiefs and people in the Jomoro District of Western Region have endorsed environmental impact assessment (EIA) and mitigation plan for Jubilee Phase-I Project as part of the preparation towards pouring of the country’s first oil in the 2010 advances.
The people however, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other state agencies that would be appointed to monitor environmental issues not to succumb to corruption and greed at the expense of the nation and its people.
At the first hearing at the district capital, Half-Assinin, Awulae Anno Adjei said the likely problem that might arise was not about the beauty and strength of the environmental laws, but the inability to implement it would be the problem.
“There was the same problems during the inland exploitation of gold and other minerals resources in Tarkwa, Preatea and other parts of the country but the same EIA laws did not work for the people in our side of the world,” he said.
Awulae Ano Adjei said the people of the area were not against the exploitation, but what the people want was good laws that would protect the interest of the nation, fishermen, the environment, coastline, purity of the air among others.
He said aside the oil companies, other investors that would be moving to the district to invest should not lure people into selling huge parcels of lands to them due to the onshore gas plant in the often.
“We will use our land as equity; therefore do not even think you will make things work differently, we cannot live today and eat into the future of the generations unborn, we have carefully manage to preserve our heritage for them,” he said.
In his plantation before the remarks and series of questions and comments, the Country Representative for Tullow, Mr Kofi Esson said, the group made up of Tullow Ghana and its partners, Kosmos, Anadarko, Hese, Sabre, EO Group and others were committed to the culture, values as well as local and international laws governing the environment and the industry.
“We are committed to embracing value and diversity, respect laws, customs as well as set high standard for environmental, safety through responsible and prudent management of the country’s natural resources,” he said.
Mr Esson said Tullow and its partners would also build a partnership for sustainable economic socials development of the country.
He said in January this year, they went through the processes of the scoping report, followed by specialist studies between the months of March and April leading the impact assessment from that month to August.
“What we are going through now, which would be replicated in Ellembelle, Axim, Agona-Nkwanta, Shama and the regional hearing was the public consultation which was very important to the process,” he said.
Mr Esson said the consultation would pave way for the final reports and the management plans and that the companies attach great importance to best environmental practices.
He said it was important to note that, the country’s requirement for the type of project at the Jubilee field was to inform the people about the operations.
Mr Esson said the EIA was also important since it would describe the project, evaluate the potential risks and impacts as well as describe how best these would be managed.
He said public hearing was also to provide the platform for people to ask the opinions and to involve the people in the decision making processes and communicate Tullow’s commitment to ongoing social environmental management to reduce impact and enhance benefits.
In 2007, the country’s gas and oil was discovered about 60 nautical miles from the shores of Effasu and 135 nautical miles from Sekondi/Takoradi.
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