OIL FIND WILL BE A BLESSING

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Agona-Nkwanta
Ghanaians have been assured that, the oil find would not visit any untold pain on the people nor disturb the peace of the country as there were many examples to guide the industry players through.
In his presentation, Mr Kofi Esson, Government and External Affairs Officer for Tullow Oil said Tullow Oil and partners would work in partnership with the state and communities as a good environmental citizen in a transparent manner.
This he said, would clear any cloud of hesitation about the company’s operations that would send wrong signal to the people and the international community.
Speaking at the day-3 of the public hearing of Jubilee Phase I project for chiefs and people of Ahanta West District, after Jomoro and Axim, Mr Esson said the oil and gas would be managed sustainably for the benefit of the country.
He said the country had many examples from other countries and each partner including the government of Ghana was doing everything possible to ensure that people of Ghana were the beneficiaries of its outputs in a transparent with much respect to the people, culture and international rules.
Mr Esson said the lessons from countries with such deposits offered the country some useful lesson, and one of the important things was be in a constant touch with the people through various module of communication.
He said Tullow would not act in a manner that would create a bad image for itself, and that the company attaches premium to good reputation, transparency, respect and rule of law as well as its social responsibilities and maintaining good rapport with its hosts.
Mr Esson said for peaceful coexistence, communication was very important since that would create the platform for the sharing information to ensure that people get to know the importance of what was going on offshore.
The Government and External Affairs Officer told the people that for monitoring performances, Tullow would work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to undertake routine seabed survey to monitor effects of discharges and report air emissions as well as monitor water discharges and waste disposal.
Tullow and EPA he said would also undertake a routine audits and work aimed at continues improvement in performances adding that the forum had provided the perfect platform to present to the people activities and the patient to listen.
He said the suggestions from the people and recommendation from the independent panel would be factored in to the final preparation to ensure socio-industrial harmony.
On the questions of corporate social responsibilities, Mr Esson said the company had established a collaborative approach in the development of it social investment programme.
“These social responsibility investment programmes would provide access to good health, capacity building through education, entrepreneurial development and environmental protection,” he said.
He also used the opportunity to explain to the people about their operations offshore, in his response. “We are partners in development and each of us has a role to play, therefore like the proverbial turtle, every man should stick out his neck if we have to go forward.”
The Omanhene of Ahana Traditional Council, Nana Badoo Bonsu XIV was grateful for the opportunity to listen to the people had to say.
He said it was important the people consulted and that there should be a greater transparency in their operation.
Nana Badoo Bonsu who is also Member of Council of State trusted the Tullow would be committed to the set rules since they also had a reputation to protect and pledged his support to ensure success of the project.
Other speakers from the community explained to the people that, working at the oil rig required highly skilled labour and only few could be taking at a time.
The speakers said it was important people train to ensure that other investors onshore in the areas of services to the oil rig, banking, finance, technical services and others the districts would be in a position provide the skill when ready.
In a recommendation, the independent panelist called for clear definition of the corporate social responsibilities, protection of the fisheries sector, alternative livelihood programmes and safety of the environment.
So far the forum had been held in Jomoro, Axim, Agona and on Friday, the whole region would assemble at Jubilee Park near West Tanokrom for regional forum.