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Question:
Oil exploration and exploitation are always associated with environmental
problems. Now we look at the Western Region, for instance, which faces
seasonal problems from what we call algae-bloom. This is attributed to
off-shore oil exploration activities in Cote D’Ivoire. These environmental
problems affect fishing activities in the region. How do you plan to tackle
the environmental problems associated with oil exploration?
Prof. Mills:
Atta-Mills and NDC believe that politics is about people; pure and simple,
the welfare of the people. How can you create wealth and prosperity for
all? If the oil which has been discovered is not going to inure to the interest
of our people then we better think twice. We have had the examples
in this country which do not give some of us cause to rejoice. Look at our
fishermen, they are complaining that trawlers are running into their nets
destroying their canoes, and nobody is doing anything. We are told that
those who should patrol our seas do not have the resources. Are we sure
that we are going to be able to do this with the oil areas?
Look at mining, many of the mining towns or communities have complained
about the environmental problems. Have those who are charged
with monitoring done their job? I believe that on the books we have very
good environmental laws but they must be enforced. And in this regard,
especially with the oil exploration, we should involve the communities.
The communities must know their rights, their responsibilities. We won’t
sit down until they are completely destroyed before we try and crack the
whip. We should be able to sit down with the oil companies, the communities
and then apportion their various responsibilities for them. If at the
end of the day you get all the money in the world but environmentally our
people are destroyed, what good is the money? Human beings must come
first and we’ll ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency does the
monitoring and that the proper laws are effected for the benefit of our people
who really must enjoy the prosperity of the nation and who should be
the priority concern of Atta-Mills as President.
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