The Presidential Candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in the 2008 general elections, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has expressed grave concerns about the exploration and production of the nation’s newly found oil and gas.
In a released signed and issued by the CPP front liner, he noted that it appeared a small group of people are fighting to gain huge benefits in a way that if not checked will leave the national interest in oil and gas far behind.
He agreed with the chiefs and people of the Western Region about their unhappiness about developments or the lack thereof with regard to oil and gas discovery in the region, saying there is good cause for concern.
Dr Nduom admitted that oil and gas benefits should be felt by all Ghanaians, but stressed that this is a great opportunity for the people of the Western Region to be given preference for a change.
“They have contributed gold, timber, cocoa, manganese, bauxite, etc., to the nation. Yet they lag far behind in development considering the resources that region has contributed to the national economy. This is an opportunity for us to make amends and bring hope to the Western Region as was started in the First Republic,” he pointed out.
Referring to some reportage from sections of the media, Dr Nduom said the Jubilee Field developed by Tullow, Kosmos in collaboration with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is behind in the preparation for production due to certain technical and managerial differences between the partners.
He therefore called on whoever is in charge of that situation to call all interested parties, listen to their grievances and solve the problems in a timely manner.
He said there was, according media reports, some confusion over the intent of Kosmos to sell its stake in the Jubilee Field, mentioning Exxon-Mobil and the GNPC interest in acquiring the stake.
“This field is the one that has generated all the excitement and interest from investors from all corners in the world – Russia, China, the Americas, India, Europe – in oil and gas exploration and production in Ghana,” stated the CPP presidential candidate.
He noted that there were “all manner of agents “who are leading interested parties to gain the ears of government officials and called on whoever was in charge of resolving this matter to do it diligently and in a way that will promote a very positive image for Ghana within the international oil and gas industry.
“My question with regard to oil and gas exploration and production, who is calling the shots and where is the Ghanaian interest, “he queried.