Nzemas threaten to join Cote d’Ivoire over 10% oil revenue snub

The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area in the Western region, according to reports by the GNA, has threatened to have his area secede from Ghana to join Cote d’Ivoire to deprive Ghana of a chunk of the oil in the region.

According to Awulae Annor Adjaye III, the decision to break away stems from government’s intransigence to grant the people of that traditional area their share of the oil revenue.

Awulae Annor Adjaye III made the announcement during a meeting organised by the Western regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi.

He said government has turned a deaf ear to several requests by the people of the region regarding oil revenue disbursements since oil production at the Jubilee Field began.

He added that the Chiefs’ request for a 10 percent share of oil revenue as well as royalties to be paid to the people of the area has been ignored by government.

He described the situation as unfair adding that his traditional area may, therefore, pay government back by opting out of Ghana to become part of Cote d’ Ivoire

“So you see, it is unfair for government to say that the oil was discovered offshore and for that matter no chief can make a claim for royalties or so.

"If that’s the case, then why is government saying that where we’ve found the oil is part of Ghana and not Cote’ d’ Ivoire?”, he queried

Ghana is currently in a legal battle with Cote’ d’Ivoire over the maritime boundary marking the territorial waters of the two countries.

Cote d’Ivoire had argued that where Ghana has found its oil resources including the area covering the Tweneboah-Ntomme-Enyira (TEN) oil field fell within its territorial waters but Ghana has disputed this claim.