Special topics
Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of the Esikado Traditional Area, says rabid partisanship has driven members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to choose only their cronies to man the country’s oil and gas resources.
The traditional ruler, who was moderating a panel discussion on Tuesday at the 2015 African Oil Governance Summit in Accra, condemned the monopoly in the management of the country’s oil and gas resources by the NDC, saying it was detrimental to the economic aspirations of the country and complete bias.
“Who are the people in charge of our oil resources? It’s NDC and not Ghanaians. When you look at the rabid partisanship that we have, you ask yourself: who are the people in charge of this? Who are the people who appoint people into places?
“You give oil blocs out, and you don’t know whom you gave it to. Were those people registered in Cayman Islands? We should know there is a problem.”
Touching on why PIAC has not been resourced up to date, he said: “Is it deliberate? Five years! Is it possible for us to keep our oil revenues in an account until we have articulated what we really want to do with our oil revenues?
If we haven’t, we don’t spend it. If these things are not coming up, forget it. Let’s stop the oil.”
He however commended Tullow Ghana for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) prior to commercial production in Ghana.
“What stops a community like Atuabo from being given equity in the gas investment?
Such developments have led to a situation whereby there is no emotional integration between the people, government and other facilitators.
