[ 2021-02-28 ]

Investment in Western Region will forestall insurgencies - Okyere-Darko
The Minister designate for Western Region, Mr
Kwabena Okyere-Darko, has suggested the continued
engagement of the people in the Western Region and
investment in the area to help forestall
agitations such as what has been witnessed in the
“Niger Delta” of Nigeria.

Conflict in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
arose in the early 1990s over tensions between
foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger
Delta's minority ethnic groups who felt exploited,
particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw.

Struggle for oil wealth has fueled violence
between ethnic groups, causing the militarization
of nearly the entire region by ethnic militia
groups, Nigerian military and police forces,
notably the Nigerian Mobile Police.

The violence contributed to Nigeria's ongoing
energy supply crisis by discouraging foreign
investment in new power generation plants in the
region.

In 2009, a Presidential amnesty programme
accompanied with support and training of
ex-militants proved to be a success.

Thus until 2011, victims of crimes were fearful of
seeking justice for crimes committed against them
because of a failure to prosecute those
responsible for human rights abuses.

According to Mr Okyere-Darko, ever since oil was
discovered in the Western Region about 10 years
ago, there were high expectations among the
people; but the chiefs and community leaders were
able to educate the people to appreciate that the
oil was not for only Western Region, but the whole
country.

“Like the same way gold found in Obuasi, Western
Region and other places is for all Ghanaians… I
believe that the education has gone down well.”

Mr Okyere-Darko made the suggestion when he
appeared before the Appointment Committee of
Parliament for vetting after President Akufo-Addo
nominated him for a ministerial role.

The nominee who is also the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Takoradi has been re-nominated for
ministerial appointment in the second term of
President Akufo-Addo’s administration for the
same ministerial portfolio.

Mr Okyere-Darko also called for the training of
young men and women in the region to be active in
the oil industry to live meaningful lives.

He urged the oil companies to move their
headquarters to the region for the people to have
direct engagement with the businesses and the oil
chain.

Mr Okyere-Darko also said the partitioning of the
Western Region into two made it compact and easier
to manage, explaining that in the past it was
difficult for a minister to make round trips
across the region within a short time.

Also, the division of the region he said made
communication easier, and activities in 14 other
districts could be monitored easily than before

Source - GNA

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