$6.5m Norwegian grant for Ghana’s environmental issues
The Norwegian government has provided a-$6.5 million grant to the Ministry of Mines, Environment, Science and Technology, to address the country’s environmental challenges.
The amount would among other issues be used for the protection of the country’s eco-system, protect water bodies at the mining, oil and gas areas and environmental protection throughout the country.
Madam Sherry Ayitey, Minister for Mines, Environment, Science and Technology announced this during the visit of Crown Prince Hakoon and Crown Princess Mette-Mariti launched a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Ghana as part of their six-day official visit to Ghana.
The Norwegian Royal siblings and the delegation are in the country to launch a MOU they signed with the Government of Ghana in December 2010, visit some businesses and participate in an Oil and Gas Summit in Accra.
Madam Ayittey said Norway had vast experience in oil exploitation and revenue management which Ghana was ready to tap their experience for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
She said although Ghana was endowed with natural resources, not enough was seen in terms of benefits and pledged government’s commitment to harness the resources for the development of the people and government.
Mr Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister for Environment, called for efficiency and transparency in the distribution of Ghana’s oil and gas revenue to avoid the mistakes of other countries.
He said the government of Norway would support their Ghanaian counterparts to avoid oil and gas spillage, which was not only disastrous to life but was also a financial burden to government.
Mr Solheim called on the Ghana government to build the capacity of workers in all the areas of mining, oil and gas in order to avoid wanton expenditure of hiring the services of experts in the industry.
Mr Inusah Fuseini, Deputy Minister of Energy, said the MOU would help government to accomplish work on the petroleum policy, enhance competence and capacity building and facilitate the drafting of the petroleum bill, oil production and revenue management.
He said the cooperation would also support the government of Ghana and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to set up a petroleum data base, and offer assistance to all state-owned oil companies.
Mr Romeo Adu-Tutu, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, said the collaboration would also help government to adhere strictly to the tenets of democracy, good governance and rule of law.
Source: GNA