[ 2012-05-02 ]

Ghana urged to fight sea pollution from oil spillage
Oil- exploring countries, including Ghana, are
being urged to develop policies to tackle
trans-boundary pollution damage from offshore oil
exploration and production.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea, 1982, requires countries to take steps to
protect the marine environment and provide
compensation for damage.

Adherence to the provision, however, over the
years has not been the best.

Chairman of the International Maritime
Organization’s Legal Committee, Kofi Mbeah, says
though Ghana has made some progress there is more
work to be done to safeguard the oil industry.

He has been re-elected for the second time at the
organization’s recent 99th session.

Dr. Mbeah who is Chief Executive of the Ghana
Shippers Council says the IMO is drawing
guidelines to bring some benefits to member states
including Ghana.

There are, however, concerns about challenges
associated to oil exploration.

“There are always associated problems and
challenges that always comes with the drilling of
oil and one of the basic and commonest things has
to do with pollution”.

The IMO through its Legal Committee has been
working ascidiously in developing convention on
transboundary pollution, an issue which received
maximum attention at the 98th session of the Legal
Committee of the IMO.

Dr. Mbeah warns, effects of any possible pollution
associated with oil exploration is enormous,
urging the government to take into consideration
measures that will ensure safe environment for
all.

“Sometimes when there is oil pollution in your
waters, it does not just affect the beaches, it
affects the way of life of the people. So in terms
of policies, Ghana is very much aware, and Ghana
has taken steps, its only that we need to develop
these further”, he stated.

He says the IMO will provide technical cooperation
and assistance to developing countries who lack
capacity to develop the needed policy framework.

“And then when we are having our contracts with
various Oil Majors, the Exon Mobil, Tullow Oil
etc, its important we take cognizance of this
contract other than that, they mean nothing”, he
emphasized.

Source - Nhyira Fm

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