Ghana needs a policy to manage its natural resource

Takoradi, Sept. 16, GNA - Professor Emeritus Albert Fiadjoe, Chairman of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC), has stressed the need for a credible national policy to ensure transparency, equity and accountability in the management of the country's national resources including oil and gas.

He was speaking at a one-day mini consultation on oil and gas as part of the Western Regional Hearing and Consultation of the CRC at Takoradi.

Professor Fiadjoe said unfortunately, the country does not have such a policy in place at the moment.

He said the country's natural resources should be properly managed to promote growth. He added that when natural resources were mismanaged, it could cause conflict.

Professor Fiadjoe said the consultation was affording stakeholders the opportunity to brainstorm to find the right constitutional framework for the management of the country's natural resources. He said Ghanaians and especially people living in the oil find communities must benefit from the resource.

He said it appeared from the submissions made that there were gaps in the oil and gas regulatory regime that must be looked at seriously. Participants at the conference called for the establishment of a Coastal Commission and Petroleum Commission.

Those, who made submissions, included Nana Kobina Nketia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omanhene of Western Nzema Traditional Area and Dr Amos Anyimadu of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon.