Sub-Sahara Africa arguably boasts of one of the largest oil reserves in the world; with enormous pools in Nigeria, Angola and to the recently oil finds in places like Ghana, Angola and Benin makes this peculiar part of the world very interesting politically. It is no surprise why prominent world leaders and economic poachers are beginning to pay attention to this part of the world.

One could prematurely conclude that, with these oil finds, at the minimum will lead or improve on:

· Economic Development

· Political Stabilization

· Reduction in poverty; and

· Respect and integration in the world as a whole

Let’s take Nigeria as a classic example, production of crude oil in Nigeria began in 1951 when Shell-BP drilled its first well; by February 1958, Nigeria made its first export of crude of about 4,928 barrels. Nowadays EIA estimates Nigeria’s effective oil production capacity to be around 2.7 million barrels per day. USAID Estimates 70% of the Nigerian population living in poverty on less than a dollar a day. What’s wrong with this picture? What’s the justification for the decline in basic amnesties like water, electricity and sanitation? Corruption plays big part of this but once again one can also argue that Petro (oil) money hasn’t help the development of other sectors of the Nigerian economy such as agriculture and basic investment in ordinary people in the form of education. Petro (oil) money has made the leaders complacent and has diversified the economy basely on petroleum products. Is any one thinking about diversifying the economies to empower the locals?

Ghana is a peculiar example and the jury is out on the impact petro (oil) money will have on this small Sahara country. I am really interested on the effect this new found of worth will have on their so-called political stabilization. I am deeply concerned about the complacency the leaders will have; turning their back on diversification of the economy introduced by the Kuffour Administration and in most cases been continued by the current administration.

Lastly, is the number of lives lost in civil wars primarily fuelled by Petro (oil) worth it? The Angolan war lasted 27-years and was formally brought to an end in 2002; an estimated 500,000 people were killed. Although one could argue that the war was not primarily due to the oil, but it played a part in it. Militia groups used Petro (oil) money to buy ammunition to fuel the war for 27 years. Are the lost lives worth the Petro dollars?

The debate in the development of new oil fields in Sub – Sahara Africa shouldn’t be so narrowly debated. Has anyone in Ghana debated the impact on drilling on the locals and the destabilization it will have on the tribal regions (Delta region in Nigeria could be a classic case, study it!). I wish some one in this part of the world is asking these questions.....

By: P. Appiah