BBC Africa Have Your Say in Takoradi…

I’ve been following the BBCAfricaHYS program for a while now. Even though I do occasionally participate on the show by sharing my ideas/comments on issues begin discussed, I never thought I would get the opportunity to meet the lively, energetic and nice folks behind the program.
BBC Africa Have Your Say team were traveling through West Africa from Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin & Nigeria.  On Tuesday; June 01, 2010 the bus made a stop at Skyy Media House in Takoradi where a special Have Your Say session was held to discuss various topics amongst;

“Off-shore drilling is set to begin at the end of the year. Should Ghanaians have great expectations?” “Is it worth all the trouble drilling it?” “What should be done to make it of benefit to all? “How the Black Stars, will perform at the World Cup in South Africa?”

I was very privileged to appear on the show upon the invitation of the BBCAfricaHYS team.  Even though, the program started way early before I got there, I was allowed to share my 2Gp [two pesewas] on the issue of Oil discovery in Ghana. Another video interview was recorded after the show which would surely be aired after their road-trip is over.
Read my comments below:

“Our leaders should invest in some good Consultants to help craft a long term plan for this discovery. Power, Water, Transportation and Waste-management should be prioritized as soon as possible to support and be sustained by both Upstream and Downstream oil production.

There should be an urgent need for collaboration with the Regional Maritime University especially because our oil is deep into the ocean and every worker on the rig should be trained in the maritime safety. The other training institutions that need to be involved are University of Mines and Technology [UMat] and the Takoradi Polythenic [T’Poly]. Also the establishment of the Oil Fields Training Center in Takoradi is a step in the right direction, I think.

In my objection; the degree to which the average Ghanaian is denied participation in investing in his economy especially the oil industry is sad. Before the profits flow, let Ghanaians and African Diasporas be stakeholders too. Where is pan-Africanism when it comes wealth building? Above all, there are very qualified African engineers to operate oil business for our collective benefit.

Before I finally conclude, there are over 16 by-products that could be obtained from the distillation and bye-processing of crude into refined oil. These include lubrication oil, crayons for schools, paraffin, wax, asphalt, industrial fuel oil, heating oil, diesel, Kerosene, jet fuel, gasoline or petrol among others and Ghana’s own innovation the premix for fuel. We could use all the by-products especially asphalt (bitumen) exclusively to build our roads into a top-notch roads network irrespective of where one lives invariably to every nook and cranny.”

I’m very thankful for the opportunity and meeting the crew behind the twitter account; BBCAfricaHYS. The bus continued to Cape Coast and later to Accra where another session was held on Africa’s electricity woes at the Surgeons and Pharmacists Hall. A couple of Ghana Bloggers; Kajsa Hallberg-Adu, Golda Addo & E.K. Bensah were also featured on it.