Western Region Assemblies send memorandum to Parliament on Petroleum Bills

Six coastal assemblies in the Western Region have formulated a memorandum to send to the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy on some ambiguities and lapses in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bills.

The Presiding Members of the assemblies: Mr Ehwi Armah from Jomoro, Mr Sagary Nokoe of Nzema East, Mr Joseph Arthur from the Shama and Mr Joseph Aidoo from the Ahanta West District, took the decision at a meeting, well attended by a cross-section of people from the area at Half Assini, at the weekend.

The meeting took place before the dissolution of the districts, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.

The Presiding Members of the Ellembelle and Shama-Ahanta East were, however, not present at the meeting that deliberated on the positive and negative impacts of Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill 2010 and the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill 2010, on the Western Region.

The memorandum, among others, seeks to address some ambiguities and lapses in the two bills towards developing appropriate policies and mechanisms for managing the petroleum resources in the interest of Ghana and the Western Region.

They said the bills are silent on the environmental degradation and its effects on the area and the people of the coastal district.

But, the bills should have adequate measures to protect the environment.

Additionally, they would like provisions that would mandate the training of Ghanaians, especially the local people, by investors and their sub-contractors.

A representative of Presiding Members from the coastal assemblies where the oil is must be included on the Revenue Management Committee.

The Presiding Members suggested that the number of women representation on the committee be increased from one to two.

Nana Ayebie Amihere VI, chief of Half Assini, who chaired the meeting, commended the Presiding Members for their foresight and commitment to the development of the region.

He expressed the hope that Parliament would accept the memo.

Source: GNA