JUBILEE OIL - BLESSING OR CURSE.....?

There has been a very strong debate over the allocation of oil revenue as the Western Region wants it fair share of the national cake no matter what others say.

Interestingly that is what was promised to the people of the region during the 2008 General Elections by the current Administration. The Vice President John Mahama made the promise on a campaign platform in the Western Region to give 10 percent of the oil revenue to the people of the region if his party, the NDC, won power.

Fortunately, the NDC wrested power from the then ruling party, the NPP. And just as the first barrel of oil was about to flow from the Jubilee field a delegation of chiefs from the Western Region House of Chiefs marched straight to Parliament House. Their mission was to remind the House and the government about the promise that the Vice President made to them so that it does not become just another one of those promises by politicians that go unfulfilled.

After a warm welcome and a nice reception the chiefs were asked by the leadership of the House to return home as their request is considered. Parliament apparently did not want to set a bad precedent for other regions and communities with other natural resources.

But let’s make no mistake.

Among the major exports of Ghana including timber, cocoa and gold Western Region contributes about 57% of the entire exports revenue of the country. For Cocoa, the Western Region has been the leading producer since 2007. In the 2007/2008 cocoa season, despite all the smuggling, the region recorded 369,360 tonnes of cocoa, in 2008/2009 season, the region recorded 413,395 tonnes, and in the 2009/2010 season it recorded 359,909 tonnes of cocoa. When the Western Region is moved out of the cocoa equation, Ghana will struggle to balance its books.

Despite all these riches Western Region is one of the most neglected and underdeveloped regions in Ghana. Over the years though, rural electrification projects by the government has brought electricity to various parts of the region. But the spine of the road network in the region is crumbling due to excessive use by heavy trucks.

This is simply because heavy goods such as timber, bauxite, manganese etc which were hitherto transported by rail to Takoradi Port for export are now being transported by road.

Thus, the surfaces of the roads continuous to develop dilated “potholes or manholes” as people humorously prefer to call it.

In view of the above, Western Region has a good cause to ask for 10 percent of the oil revenue for its development. Such neglect resulted in the problem the Nigerian oil industry has in the in the Niger Delta. If Ghana can escape such a situation as exists in the Niger Delta, then the needs of the Region should not be neglected but rather addressed.

“When the frog in front falls into a pit, all others that follow take caution”.

Also, if the Jubilee oil will be a blessing and not a curse, then an example should be learnt from some best practices elsewhere in the world such as Norway. This way our country can avoid the curse that has blighted lives and economic prospects of many oil producers in Africa. Let’s help in making the Jubilee oil a blessing for all Ghanaians.

Ekow Aidoo
paanyan7@gmail.com