Ghanaians asked to promote businesses, using oil find

Bolgatanga, Nov. 20, GNA - Mrs Lucy Awuni, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, has called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the oil find expand and promote their businesses. She said that the emergence of the oil and gas industry would create the opportunities for the establishment and expansion of businesses to create more jobs.

Mrs Awuni, who made the call at the first oil exhibition held in Bolgatanga, said that government would ensure that guidelines for oil exploitation were followed to prevent environmental degradation. She said: "Government would continue to be vigilant and exercise its monitoring role to ensure that these guidelines are strictly followed to protect the environment".

Mrs Awuni asked the people to inform Government about any activity that could affect the environment. Mr Fuzzy Kombat, Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), said that oil prospecting in Ghana began in 1896 and over the years many forays had been made into further exploration until commercial quantities were discovered recently.

He gave the assurance that steps would be taken to prevent air and water pollutions through oil exploitation. The exhibition was mounted by the Regional Directorate of CNC and sponsored by "Nabuke Foundation", a non-governmental organization (NGO) that seeks to promote Ghanaian culture and heritage. It attracted people from government departments, schools, NGOs, civil society organisations and private enterprises among others. Participants appealed to government to judiciously use proceeds that would be accrued from the oil and gas industry to the benefit of all Ghana. 2