We have the resources but lack leadership - Otiko Afisah

The National Women’s Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),Otiko Afisah Chrissie Djaba, has described what is yet to be confirmed as crude oil, found in the Nkwanta North Constituency of the Volta Region, as a blessing from God but feared it might not reflect in the lives of the natives.

Speaking on Peace Fm’s “kokrokoo” programme Monday, the NPP woman told the host, Tweneboa Kodua (TK) that, Ghana has been blessed with a lot of natural resources that earns a lot of money for the country but has had little impact in the lives of Ghanaians.

According to Otiko, Ghana has all the needed resources for any country to develop but has not put it to good use; in her view good leadership is what Ghana is lacking.

“When you go to Obuasi, you would be amazed at the level of poverty in the area despite the fact that gold mining has been going on there for many years.

"The situation is not different in the Western Region where there has been the discovery of oil but bad road network, lack of potable drinking water and lack of proper health care is the order of the day,” she stated.

The NPP Women’s Organizer argued that, a leadership that will provide a level playing field is what Ghanaians need at this point in our history. We need a leader that would “ensure equity, make sure the resources go all over the place” to alleviate poverty and raise the standard of living of Ghanaians.

The vibrant Women’s leader of the NPP could not understand why “Ghanaians are still being swallowed by so much poverty, if all these resources are in this country”.

The government, she said, must quickly put in measures to assuage the burden of the Ghanaians people.

Otiko Afisah Chrissie Djaba, was commenting on the issue of a possible oil find at Jumbo near Kpassa in the Volta Region which was found in the process of digging a well.

The Ghana National Petroleum Commission’s (GNPC) team of experts have taken samples and expressed surprised about the substance which looked almost refined compared to most unrefined crude oil though confirmation would not be in until after two weeks.