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The government of Ghana has been advised not to engage in any oil and gas exploration and production licensing and contracts with multinational companies that have bad records in protecting the environment during exploration.
Kwame Ahiabenu, chief executive of PenPlusBytes, a civil society organization in an interview noted that some of these oil and gas and mining giants only operate for profit and their selfish interest and not in the interest of the nation, the environment and the rights of the people.
He noted that events in the Delta states of Nigeria, Gabon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea where some of these companies have displayed poor environmental management while producing crude oil onshore sends a worrying signal to Ghanaians.
They have not changed, they are the same companies we know and we must be careful about them. They have changed the color and taste of water bodies that serve as a source f drinking water for people in these countries. Their activities have resulted in the extinction of fishes in rivers and streams and they have not done much to reverse the trend. These are the companies that want to come to Ghana. I don’t want to mention their names but we know them. Last week they announced they are coming to Ghana to explore and produce. They have now seen Ghana as a profit making corridor and want t exploit. We must be careful. Even at a time that we are ensuring prudent environmental management during production we have already lost 21 whales at high seas. We will start losing human beings when these companies set in., he warned”.
Source: Kwabena Adu Koranteng/ New Crusading Guide
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