4.5 Oil and Gas
Though the Initiative is focused on biodiversity and food security issues with a focus on fisheries, the introduction of oil and gas production in the Region will demand that the ICFG
also pay attention to helping build local capacity to advocate for and engage in transparent communications about a range of important issues around oil and gas. This includes
communications around both the positive and negative social-economic and environmental impacts it could have on the region. Since there is often suspicion that the Initiative is tied to
U.S. oil interests, CRC has adopted measures to communicate that this is not the case. For this reason, CRC has trained ICFG staff and partners on how to respond, honestly and
transparently, to questions about the Initiative‘s role with the oil and gas industry. CRC and FoN will support the creation of an emerging Western Region Civil Society Platform of
frontline communities on oil and gas. This group will comprise traditional leaders Paramount Chiefs and sub-chiefs, queen mothers, faith-based organizations, youth groups and NGOs.
This platform will have a mandate for publicly advocating for best practices, fairness and transparency in all aspects of oil and gas operations including the potential impacts of the
industry on their communities, job opportunities, revenue and benefit sharing, concerns of fishermen relative to their operations at sea and deepened consultations with coastal
communities. The platform can also serve a role in orienting the corporate social responsibility investments of the oil companies in the direction of support that will address the real needs of
the communities.
5.0 Lessons Learned and Stories
5.1 Wetlands or Wastelands
In October of 2009, the Chief Executive of the Takoradi-Sekondi Metropolitan District declared that the wetlands areas within the urban area would be developed. The oil boom has prompted
accelerated and anarchical development around the whole of the urban area and various authorities thought best to allocate wetland areas for filling and development. This situation has
highlighted the thinking of many urban planners that wetlands are wastelands —i.e., areas that are better developed than left untouched. The declaration led to FoN accelerating its wetlands
planning program. Immediately following the declaration, FoN held a press conference, and used newspaper articles and radio talk shows to denounce the development of the wetlands.
These programs began educating listeners on the biological importance of these wetlands and the vastly important ecological services and functions that they provide to the urban area in
terms of controlling floods and cleaning the air. FoN and CRC also worked closely with the EPA to halt ongoing filling of wetlands areas and to stifle illegal development.
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