GAS PROJECT SERVES INTEREST OF ALL

Page 7: Daily Graphic, March 17, 2012 EVER since the announcement was made of the relocation of the Gas Processing Plant from Bonyere in the Jomoro District to Atuabo in the Ellembelle District, both in the Western Region, varying views have been expressed either in support of the relocation or in protest. Most of the dissenting views have emanated from the chiefs and people of the Nzema West Traditional Area, which is understandable because of the high expectations they had about the project and also the fact that people had to be relocated from the land to make way for the project. We, however, need to bear in mind that the national interest runs paramount in every project that is to be pursued. We believe the decision to relocate the gas plant was not for any sectarian purposes but influenced by the national interest. It is also important to recognise that every development process produces intended and unintended outcomes. Also, a development process that leads to a desired change can bring about losers and winners whose interests must be catered for. But the moment the project serves a common good, there are no losers. Whatever be the case, the plant is still located in Nzemaland. That is why we think the call by the Paramount Chief of the Nzema East Traditional Area for the people to unite and denounce the politicking surrounding the relocation should be embraced. This is especially so when the engineers have explained the reasons for the relocation of the plant. The Daily Graphic believes that every Ghanaian must rally behind the Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas) to speed up the process of constructing the plant to enable the country to maximise the oil production at the Jubilee Fields. The gas produced from the oil production is being flared, impacting on the quantum of oil, while the flared gas could have been channelled into industrial or domestic uses. We have had to endure some load-shedding of energy recently because the Volta River Authority (VRA) had problems with the quality of the gas from Nigeria. We think that if Ghana Gas is allowed to kick-start its operations, Ghanaians will have a lot to reap. The benefits of the gas to the ordinary Ghanaian are immense. Already, many commercial vehicles are using gas, instead of petrol or diesel, because gas is less expensive. We believe the challenges we have encountered in power fluctuation and increases in utility bills could be reduced if the gas project becomes a reality. We also believe the constant excuse by the Ghana Water Company of inadequate power supply to enable it to meet its production and distribution target will become a thing of the past. So do we believe that other utility companies will be fired up to deliver on their charge. Painful as the decision to relocate the gas plant may seem to the people of Jomoro, we believe this is the time for a united front. The partisanship that has characterised the national discourse must not be allowed to stand in the way of this national project. There are no victors or losers in this national asset. It is dream come through for all Ghanaians.