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ing glory to the efforts by the GNPC under Tsatsu Tsikata who is now
languishing in jail. And I believe that Tsatsu will take pride in the fact that
through his selfless efforts this country has been blessed by the Almighty
with oil reserves!
Now let me say that we are going to account strictly for the revenue which
will come from the oil and gas. We are going to have an independent allparty
body to oversee the operation of this segment of our economy. We
are not going to engage in profligate spending. We are going to make sure
that we use the revenues for the benefit of our people. We want our oil
discovery to be a blessing and not a curse.
Ladies and gentlemen, the oil companies will be well advised, given the
experience of other countries, to form meaningful partnerships with the
communities in which they operate, especially with the fishermen, so they
do not feel that their livelihood is being destroyed by the operation of
these companies.
Ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to renewable energy, we have wind
energy, which is a result of research done during our time by the Energy
Commission. And indeed we are told that we can get about 5,200 megawatts
using wind energy. With solar energy, we will go ahead to exploit
it, and indeed it is possible for us to have hydro schemes on Tano, Pra,
Ankobra, and Gwollu.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, what is the future picture? There are
some who will say that our ideas are big; others will say they are too simple.
There are those who are going to ask how are you going to fund these
schemes? Let me tell you, if we cut out the excessive spending, that will
be first step in a journey of a hundred or a million miles. There are those
of our sceptics who will say you cannot eradicate poverty in this country.
Poverty, like corruption started from the time of Adam. But let me say
ladies and gentlemen, it is ironical that in seven and a half years, some
elected officials who were wallowing in poverty have been able to get out
of it and yet they tell us that it is too short a period for us to be able to do
something about eradication of poverty.
Ladies and gentlemen, Atta Mills will want to have a society where every
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