|
Dr Nduom gives condition for use of oil resource in Ghana
Accra, Oct. 29, GNA -
"If the oil is not going to benefit Ghanaians then it must
stay under the ground," Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Presidential
Candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP) said at the
first Election 2008 Presidential Debate.
He said, "CPP led government will ensure that revenue
generated from the oil industry benefits Ghanaians,
especially communities who will be affected by the oil
exploitation in the Western Region".
Citing experiences in the solid mineral sector, where most
communities in which the mines were allocated did not
benefit from the gold, diamond and manganese deposits, Dr
Nduom said the oil resources must be used for the benefit of
the people.
The debates featured the four Presidential Candidates with
representation in Parliament; New Patriotic Party (NPP);
National Democratic Congress (NDC) and People's National
Convention (PNC).
Dr Nduom said for the country to be saved from the
experiences of what was happening in the Niger Delta of
Nigeria, communities around such resources would be rebuilt.
The CPP Presidential Candidate said petrol chemical
industries would be set up to provide the people in the
community with employment and direct benefit from the
resource.
He said a CPP led Government through Parliament would enact
a law to prevent the Executive from taking decisions on how
the oil revenue was used.
On security and crime he called for a proper identification
system of properties and people to allow for easy tracking
of criminals.
In addition the Attorney General's Office would be separated
from the Ministry of Justice to ensure quick prosecution of
criminal cases.
Dr Nduom also pledged to use the State's purchasing power to
buy what was produced locally to boost demand and create
market for people.
Commenting on the NPP Government slogan 'private sector as
the engine of growth of the economy' Dr Nduom said an engine
alone could not move so a CPP led Government would provide
the engine with a body, fix tyres and provide a competent
driver.
He said his administration would pursue local investment and
not foreign direct investment, saying as President he would
go round the country to find out what the needs of
businesses were and provide for those needs.
Dr Nduom stressed the need for agricultural subsidies,
saying they would help farmers and fishermen to produce
sufficient food to bring about food security.
In all, there were eleven major questions, which focused on
job creation, education, health, security, law and order,
oil revenue, energy, women and children's rights, foreign
direct investment, food security and intra-regional trade.
There were four rounds of four questions each. For the first
two rounds each candidate had three minutes to answer a
major questions and a minute for rebuttal, which was
optional.
Two minutes was allotted for major questions in the third
and fourth rounds and each was given an extra two minutes to
make concluding remarks.
GNA
|
