Be Wild Over Oil Money -Ghanaians told

Ghanaians have been called upon to be wide awake and monitor all activities with
respect to the oil production to prevent unscrupulous politicians from using the
oil revenue to advance their narrow material gains.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued by representatives of people from
the oil zone of Jomoro, Elembelle, Nzema East and Ahanta West districts at the
end of a two-day sensitization workshop organized by WACAM.
“Citizens should also be prepared to rise up and defend their rights fully when
they are faced with any form of violation from the oil companies using all
legitimate means available,” the group added.
The group also expressed its vehement opposition to the attempt to collateralize
the oil revenue and called on the entire nation to resist the move.

The communiqué called on government to conduct immediate epidemiological study
to gather data on the health status and common diseases in the frontline
communities, to enable the nation monitor emerging diseases that would be
introduced into the communities as a result of the oil production.
The group expressed deep concerns about the needless hype of expectations by
politicians and government officials that had sought to create the false
impression that “the start of oil production marks the beginning of solution to
all our socio-economic problems.”
While cautioning against the needless hype of expectations, the group appealed
to NGOs and CBOs to create the platform to educate the people on the realities
on the ground to avert over-reliance on the oil production.

Below is the full communiqué

COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY SENSITISATION WORKSHOP ON HUMAN
RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AND MANAGING THE HIGH EXPECTATION OF PEOPLE WITHIN
THE OIL ZONE.

We the community people from the Oil Zone of Jomoro, Ellembele, Nzema East and
Ahanta West districts in the Western Region, at the end of a two-day
sensitization workshop organized by WACAM, hereby issue this communiqué
representing our collective position on the number of issues that came up for
discussion with respect to the oil production expected to commence on December
15, 2010.

· That we are deeply worried about the needless hype of the expectation
of the people by our politicians and government officials, creating the false
impression that the start of oil production marks the beginning of solution to
all our socio-economic problems. We therefore caution government and politicians
to desist from that practice since it is not in the interest of the nation,
especially the frontline communities. Consequently we want to appeal to NGOs and
CBOs to create the platform to educate the people on the realities on the ground
to avert over-reliance on the oil production.

· That we want to encourage the citizens, especially people in the
frontline communities, to concentrate on their current occupations that earn
them a living instead of putting all their hopes on expected job opportunities
from the oil sector which may not come eventually.

· That government should commit more attention and resources to the
development of other sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, whose
contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is higher than what is expected
from the oil sector. This should be tailored towards creating more jobs in the
agricultural sector with more emphasis on the fishery industry and making it
more attractive to the youth.

· That government should enact a law to provide for the setting up of a
fund to make Corporate Social Responsibility mandatory out of the corporate
profits of the oil companies to undertake alternative livelihood programmes for
communities whose sources of livelihood would be affected by the oil production.
Part of the fund should also be used for development project determined by the
frontline communities as Corporate Social Responsibility.

· That there should be Sub-Committees of the Public Interest and
Accountability Committee and the Investment Advisory Board in the frontline
communities to oversee the judicious use of the funds meant for community
development.

· That there should be equitable distribution of the oil revenue across
the country, and across all sectors of the economy, with special emphasis on the
frontline communities and agriculture.


· That the citizenry should be wide awake and monitor activities in the
oil sector to ensure that our politicians do not use the revenue to advance
their narrow material gains. Citizens should also be prepared to rise up and
defend their rights fully when they are faced with any form of violation from
the oil companies using all legitimate means available.

· That the entire nation should rise up and resist any attempt to alter
clause five (5) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill that does not allow
collateralisation of the oil revenue.


· That clause 50 to 54 in the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill should
be maintained to ensure transparency and accountability.

· That government should put in place effective security measures,
including a rapid response arrangement, to contain the expected increase in
crimes often associated with oil production before the nation is overtaken by
events.

· That community should insist on documentation of promises to serve as
a binding social contract between them and politicians who make promises to them
in return for electoral support.


· That government should conduct immediate epidemiological study to
gather data on the health status and common diseases in the frontline
communities to enable the nation monitor emerging diseases that will be
introduced into the communities as a result of the oil production.

· That the ballast water which contains toxic chemicals should be
treated before being discharged into the sea. We are even worried that even
though production has not started, there are signs that dangerous chemicals are
now present in the sea as fishermen witness it in their fishing activities.

· That government should employ measures to control sea traffic to offer
greater security for fishermen.


· That government should define and fence off with visible marks around
the rigg, zones that are restricted to fishing activities