$6.5m Norwegian grant for Ghana's environmental issues

Accra, April 12, GNA - The Norway 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, water bodies at the mining, oil and gas areas and environmental protection throughout the country. Ms Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Mines, Environment, Science and Technology announced this during the visit of the Norwegian Crown Prince Hakoon and Crown Princess Mette-Mariti launched a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they signed with the government in December last year.

The royal siblings who are on a six-day official visit to Ghana are leading a delegation made up of energy and environmental experts and participate in an Oil and Gas Summit in Accra. Ms 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. Mr Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of 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 also a financial burden to governments. Mr Solheim called on Ghana 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 co-operation would also support the government and 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 help government to adhere strictly to the tenets of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.