MP advises against environmental problems in oil exploration

Accra, Dec 10, GNA - Mr. Francis Addai-Nimoh, the Deputy Ranking Member on Science, Environment and Technology, on Thursday appealed to he government to equip all environment-related organizations against possible environmental problems that could disrupt the exploration of the country's oil.

This, he said, could be done by empowering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other industrial organizations, logistically and financially, to draw a comprehensive plan against spillage and to put up long term measures that would make the oil find a perpetual blessing. Mr. Addai-Nimoh, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said like any other industry, oil exploration was bound to face environmental problems if steps were not taken to avert them. He mentioned some of the challenges as spillage, air, land and sea pollution and wanton destruction of human and livestock lives if adequate measures were not adopted for the industry.

He called for the formation of an information and communication network that could frequently give information to the explorers and people living around the oil fields to avoid oil disasters that affect some African countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. "Most people will be made to think that the oil industry will solve all their problems without taking a second look at the consequences." He called on the government to make it a requirement for all companies interested in Ghana's oil to do effective Environmental Impact Assessment and assure the nation that their activities would not negatively affect the ordinary Ghanaian.

Mr. Addai-Nimoh said oil companies who renege on their promises should be made to face the full rigours of the law to serve as deterrent to others. "We should not allow the activities of the oil companies to affect the air, land and sea since our very livelihood depends on these areas of human development." 10 Dec. 09