THE chiefs and people of the Jomoro District in the Western Region have endorsed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mitigation plan prepared as part of steps towards the commencement of oil drilling at the Jubilee oil fields in 2010.
They, 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-Assini, Awulae Annor Adjae III, Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area, said the likely problem that might arise was the inability to implement the plan.
“There were the same problems during the inland exploitation of gold and other mineral resources in Tarkwa, Prestea 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 Adjae said the people of the area were not against the exploitation, but good laws that would protect the interest of the nation, fishermen, the environment, coastline and 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.
“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 managed to preserve our heritage for them,” he said.
In his presentation before the remarks and series of questions and comments, the Country Representative of Tullow, Mr Kofi Esson, said the group, made up of Tullow Ghana and its partners, Kosmos, Anadarko, Hese, Sabre, EO Group and others, was 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, respecting laws and customs, as well as setting 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 and social development of the country.
Mr Esson said the EIA was important since it described the project, evaluated the potential risks and impacts, as well as described how best these would be managed.
In 2007, 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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