Ghana, Keta basin protest - Some angry residents in protest
The residents of Keta say oil exploration in the region will not be in their interest
The residents have threatened to block any attempts by government to explore the Keta basin oil Some angry residents of the Keta Municipality in the Volta Region, have hit the streets in protest against oil exploration activities in the region. The aggrieved residents, most of whom are vegetable and fish farmers argue that oil exploration in the Keta basin will not be in their interest, but will worsen their plight.
According to them, the Keta basin for years has been their major source of fish supply and they fear the oil exploration could take away their means of livelihood.
Some of the protesters according to a Myjoyonline.com report described the oil exploration activities as “evil.” They further said any attempt by authorities to extract oil in the Keta basin will bring untold hardship and poverty to the people in the region. The protest comes in the wake of attempts by government of Ghana and a Swiss company to begin exploration of oil in the Keta basin. It could be recalled that ex-president John Mahama in 2016, signed an agreement with the Swiss African Oil Company to begin oil exploratory activities in the Keta basin.
Since the agreement was signed, there has been some engagement with opinion leaders about government’s intention to explore oil in the area. But some community members appear not happy about oil activities in the region as they have kicked against government’s move.
Since the agreement was signed, there has been some engagement with opinion leaders about government’s intention to explore oil in the area. But some community members appear not happy about oil activities in the region as they have kicked against government’s move.
The leader of the Vegetable Farmers Association, who gave his name as Roland, told Joy News that some of his members were put into groups to discuss the oil activities but nothing conclusive came out of it. Roland insisted that the community resisted government’s intention to explore oil in the area because nothing has changed since their last meeting. “This evil contract is not in the interest of the community. It is only a fuss some of us have seen it and heard it the level of poverty in Oil delta in Nigeria even though the place is rich in oil,” Roland in an interview told Joy News on Thursday.
He added that fishing and farming in the region is their natural inheritance which will be left to generations yet unborn.
According to them, the Keta basin for years has been their major source of fish supply and they fear the oil exploration could take away their means of livelihood.
