“Enemies are not God”, so says the inscription on a very popular food joint situated at the taxi rank near the main traffic light around the Ghana National Fire Service station in Ashaiman. I remember the ever inviting aroma that fills the atmosphere around this area. Yeah, that was during my primary school days. Buddy, guess what? It was a great moment for me (and hey! not only I but my friends too!) anytime we were sent to buy food from this joint. It wasn’t just because we may have the opportunity to eat the leftover of this lifetime rice but because we will have the chance to “taste” the aroma of this ‘jorming’ food.
Standing in the midst of his fellow freedom fighters during the All African People’s Conference in 1958, the man, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who has been regarded, though arguably, as wiser than almost all his cohorts, asked his comrades, “Who is the enemy?” As expected, the conference room was almost like a graveyard when this question was asked. I guess the participants were uncertain what their champion was aiming at hence kept quiet. Then the speaker answered his own question: the enemy is imperialism. Thunderous applause and shouts exploded to this answer. I cannot but agree with the legend and all his compatriots that the greatest enemy at that moment was imperialism and colonialism in all its forms.
Today, there hardly goes a discussion about the underdevelopment of Ghana (and Africa at large) without mentioning colonialism and imperialism being the strongest monster that has haunted us and continue to do so. Some few days ago, I had a chat with some Norwegians. During the discussion, two of them also did not hesitate to mention this same monster - colonialism and imperialism – to be responsible for Ghana’s (Africa’s) underdevelopment. Hmmmm!
I absolutely agree that colonialism and imperialism has had immense negative consequences on Ghana and Africa as a whole. It has brought untold hardships and difficult-to-forget events in many spheres of our national life. The demarcation of unimaginable boundaries in some cases during the balkanisation or struggle for Africa is one such example that has had negatively gargantuan effect on our Continent. As much as I acknowledge the negative impacts our association with our colonial masters has had on our national life, I think it is just fair to also say that there has been some excellent positive stuff worthy of commendation. I guess you will agree with me that this relationship has brought unprecedented improvement in the sector of education among other equally important arenas of our collective existence.
Without the peculiar case of South Africa (apartheid system), most part of Africa had independence and thereupon attained republican status for more than four decades ago. For instance, the beacon of hope of south Sahara Africa, Ghana, will in some few weeks celebrate her 55th birthday as an independent nation. That which is worth pondering over more than anything else is how far have we come as an independent state especially understanding and accepting the fact that we had poor and unacceptable standard of living during those era of colonial dependence? This state of mind that we were not doing well under colonial rule alone is more than enough a strength to marshal us into greatness. Think about this.
Certainly, I must admit we have achieved some level of success in some arena of our national life at one point or the other during these years of existence as a free nation. I cannot forget about Ghana being the most democratic country in Africa and well respected across the world in this regard. In doing so, I must emphatically state that despite this achievement, we have not done well with what we have. Yes, we have not. Remember, the motto of the premier hall of the premier varsity in Ghana says “Cui Datum” which is interpreted as ‘to whom much is given, much is deserved’. Again, I remember very well when I challenged my English teacher in JHS about a mark he gave me in an essay exercise. Recognising that I did much in the essay but the mark obtained did not meet my expectation, I approached him for some comments on the mark he awarded me. To my surprise, he also shared the same view as mine that my essay was a splendid one. However, he did not end there. “If any other student has written such an essay, s/he will get more than you had”, he said. Contrary to my initial thought that he dislike me, he explained further that he believes and knows that I have more than that to offer hence he expects me to do more as against another student who may do a similar work but that might be his/her maximum potential. Do you get it? We have achieved certain feats but we can still do more and better.
Will someone convince me beyond any reasonable doubt the effect of colonialism and imperialism on the greedy, negative and retrogressive behaviour of some of our leaders in Ghana or Africa? Which colonial master has taught us to be exhibiting this high level of selfishness and greediness that mark the character of some of our leaders especially the political leaders? I guess the ‘greediness theory’ ought to be published and popularised, maybe by me, come some day! Is it not sheer senselessness to say that the current pretty severe harmattan wind blowing across Ghana is introduced by the president just as saying that colonialism and imperialism is responsible for the corruption that like madness entangles the leadership of our countries in Africa?
The ongoing brawl on the swapping of cocaine by some official(s) in a state institution(s) in Ghana is an issue worth considering. Despite judgement is yet to be delivered on this issue, available information provided by investigations from different state recognised institutions seems to be pointing to one direction. Has colonialism taught our leaders in public offices how to engage in this self defeating and destructive tendencies? Senseless! May be am just displaying my highest level of ignoramus. Could somebody please bail me out? Looking at all the known and unknown politically or otherwise motivated financial scandals that have been visited on Ghana since the departure of the last colonial master from Ghana (the British) till this day, which of them has any of our colonial masters from the Portuguese through to the Dutch to the British being the suspect or culprit? Are they not all perpetuated by Ghanaians whose placentas are buried in the soil of Ghana? God, save us.
Can anyone tell me why we cannot over the years realise that loyalty and allegiance to that which binds us (Ghana and Africa) rather than that which separate us (ethnic group, religion etc) is what we need to hold on to so as to stay in unity and enhance cohesion among us despite the colonial master has put different tribes and other different people together as one? We continue to pay lip service to the statement that unity is strength while all we do before and after making this precious statement is division inseparable. Is colonialism responsible for preventing us from thinking straight? Are our minds under their (colonial masters’) manipulation? Let someone educate me, please!
When our colonial masters and some of our course mates in the faculty of colonisation are vigorously thinking about providing more than the basic amenities of life for their people since these have already been met, we are still in the wilderness of sheer wickedness, cutting-corners, subverting the rules that try to keep us in check and engaging in parochial interests that will line up our pockets with unable-to-mention (too much!) state money. How about the ongoing financial scandal in Ghana? Which of the colonial masters’ action or inaction caused it? Indeed, enemies ain’t God hence cannot do anything to harm you but they become dangerous and life-threatening when you are seen to be your own enemy.
As said earlier, the assertion by Dr. Nkrumah and his comrades during those times that colonialism and imperialism is the enemy is nothing but the absolute truth. However, should you ask any of them today, I believe that even the most dumb one among them at the time will tell you that it is no more the colonial master and the imperialist and all its new forms but ourselves. Yes, ourselves.
I dare say that our inability to come to terms with the reality that we are our own enemies is that greatest menace that is obstructing our development as a people. My country men and women, we are our own enemies. The enemy is not far from you. It is you. Yes, you. Let us accept this fact, arise, think and change our ways of doing things and we will be great. I hope s/he who calls him/herself a leader in Ghana (Africa) is listening.
Your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it!
Lawer Egbenya
laweregbenya@gmail.com
www.laweregbenya.wordpress.com
www.danielegbenya.blogspot.com
www.modernghana.com/author/laweregbenya).
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
THE SPIRIT OF DEDE
You are adorable. I dare say the beauty’s beauty denotes your true identity. The well laid out eye lashes that span your eyes are so charming. Oh! Yes, you are a mark of elegance. Please, my admirable Ga lady friends, this is not for you. Naa, I will get one for you, ok. Thank you for your understanding.
Both are children of Mr. Kuma. They are both in the same class, in the same school. They eat, study and play together. On the way to church, you are almost always bound to see both of them together. Indeed, they are most often together than they are alone. Obviously, they love each other so much. I guess this reminds you of the old days. Certainly, Mr. Kuma and his two children, Mensah and Dede, come to mind. “Hahahahaaaa, those days”, I guess will be your remark. I vividly remember the time when my classmates and I used to read some particular chapters of the English textbook very well and not others. These were times when we can mention some words in those favourite chapters of ours but failed to mention same words when they reappear in other chapters. How funny! I guess it was some kind of context-specific learning. Hahahaaaaaa!
Yeah, the talk is on. The predictions are being made and in less than a week, 21st January, 2012, the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, 2012 will kick start in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. All the about 24 million ‘coaches’ in Ghana (the whole populace!) have as expected started having their stake on the performance of currently 2nd best FIFA ranked Africa team, the Black Stars of Ghana. The question on the lips of many is how can we end the three decades of trophy drought by the Black Stars? Will it be at this tournament?
Certainly, every Ghanaian will wish for this drought to come to an end. The much-awaited final list of the 23 man squad as has been released by the head coach, Goran Stevanovic, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is certainly the best we have at the moment. Yes, it is. Remember, they are the same crop of players that has made us the first runner-up team on the continent at the moment. With this, they are definitely a side to be watched at this year’s African football fiesta and a highly tipped side to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Buddy, it does not end there. There is more than that. Our skills and hard work will certainly be brought to the fore but once again, I dare say we are still far from lifting the trophy on 12th February, 2012.
Do you remember Ghana’s quarter final match at the FIFA Youth (U-20) championship in Egypt 2009? Before this match, the captain of the side, Andre Dede Ayew, sustained an injury that many including some of the technical handlers, football analysts and the ever vociferous Ghanaian football supporters argued that he should be benched. But the inspirational ‘capitano’ said once he can stand on his feet and run, he will play his heart out for Ghana. In the said match, he did nothing but to live up to his words. He was exceptional as usual. A high sense of total dedication and commitment was shown. His sense of result-oriented attitude and the provision of the much needed motivation such as through his usual clapping and waving of hands to call on his team mates even in the most difficult of times to do their best on the field of play could not but released the trophy into his hand. As he lifted the trophy signifying the enviable feat he and his colleagues had attained, I remembered the above narrated incidence. I believe with conviction that this sense of patriotism and the desire to die for the country of your birth did the ‘magic’ – winning the much coveted trophy. As a great believer of the school of teamwork, I do not mean to say that he did the job alone but that he provided a great sense of leadership; one with true example that energised all his guys to get the job done. Let every member in the red, gold, green jersey with the ever black star of hope of Africa strive to die for the colours and we will certainly smile to the trophy when it is taken through the principal streets of Accra and maybe through my home village in February! This is my humble submission and I hope someone is listening.
May we all remember to say a prayer for the stars.
Folk, remember your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it.
May God bless the spirit of Dede.
May God bless the Black stars and Ghana football.
May God bless us all.
laweregbenya@gmail.com
Both are children of Mr. Kuma. They are both in the same class, in the same school. They eat, study and play together. On the way to church, you are almost always bound to see both of them together. Indeed, they are most often together than they are alone. Obviously, they love each other so much. I guess this reminds you of the old days. Certainly, Mr. Kuma and his two children, Mensah and Dede, come to mind. “Hahahahaaaa, those days”, I guess will be your remark. I vividly remember the time when my classmates and I used to read some particular chapters of the English textbook very well and not others. These were times when we can mention some words in those favourite chapters of ours but failed to mention same words when they reappear in other chapters. How funny! I guess it was some kind of context-specific learning. Hahahaaaaaa!
Yeah, the talk is on. The predictions are being made and in less than a week, 21st January, 2012, the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, 2012 will kick start in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. All the about 24 million ‘coaches’ in Ghana (the whole populace!) have as expected started having their stake on the performance of currently 2nd best FIFA ranked Africa team, the Black Stars of Ghana. The question on the lips of many is how can we end the three decades of trophy drought by the Black Stars? Will it be at this tournament?
Certainly, every Ghanaian will wish for this drought to come to an end. The much-awaited final list of the 23 man squad as has been released by the head coach, Goran Stevanovic, and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is certainly the best we have at the moment. Yes, it is. Remember, they are the same crop of players that has made us the first runner-up team on the continent at the moment. With this, they are definitely a side to be watched at this year’s African football fiesta and a highly tipped side to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Buddy, it does not end there. There is more than that. Our skills and hard work will certainly be brought to the fore but once again, I dare say we are still far from lifting the trophy on 12th February, 2012.
Do you remember Ghana’s quarter final match at the FIFA Youth (U-20) championship in Egypt 2009? Before this match, the captain of the side, Andre Dede Ayew, sustained an injury that many including some of the technical handlers, football analysts and the ever vociferous Ghanaian football supporters argued that he should be benched. But the inspirational ‘capitano’ said once he can stand on his feet and run, he will play his heart out for Ghana. In the said match, he did nothing but to live up to his words. He was exceptional as usual. A high sense of total dedication and commitment was shown. His sense of result-oriented attitude and the provision of the much needed motivation such as through his usual clapping and waving of hands to call on his team mates even in the most difficult of times to do their best on the field of play could not but released the trophy into his hand. As he lifted the trophy signifying the enviable feat he and his colleagues had attained, I remembered the above narrated incidence. I believe with conviction that this sense of patriotism and the desire to die for the country of your birth did the ‘magic’ – winning the much coveted trophy. As a great believer of the school of teamwork, I do not mean to say that he did the job alone but that he provided a great sense of leadership; one with true example that energised all his guys to get the job done. Let every member in the red, gold, green jersey with the ever black star of hope of Africa strive to die for the colours and we will certainly smile to the trophy when it is taken through the principal streets of Accra and maybe through my home village in February! This is my humble submission and I hope someone is listening.
May we all remember to say a prayer for the stars.
Folk, remember your thought today can make the world better tomorrow. Think about it.
May God bless the spirit of Dede.
May God bless the Black stars and Ghana football.
May God bless us all.
laweregbenya@gmail.com
Sunday, January 1, 2012
CAN WE? (MY NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO GHANA AND GHANAIANS)
It is that time of the year when individuals, groups, organisations and corporate institutions wish for themselves good tidings in the New Year. A time when almost everyone hopes to get the best out of the prospects of the New Year. To me, it is that time of the season when even the greatest believer of pessimism is optimistic.
In the afternoon of that day, the airwaves in Ghana were inundated with what most people have christened the greatest developmental discovery in post-colonial era in Ghana, my Land of birth. I remember very well on that day how those of us who did not have the opportunity to either listen to the radio or watch TV as the management of Kosmos Energy show to His Excellency, the president of the Republic, the newly discovered black gold, oil, in commercial quantities in the shores of Ghana specifically the Jubilee Fields. What a great feeling it was to having realised that we may also very soon be a proud member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This was in June, 2007. Even the worst enemy of Ghana will on this day celebrate with us because much work has been done towards the exploration of oil in commercial quantities since pre-colonial era and especially in the 1980s.
We kept our faith and God being ever faithful to us brought it into great fruition on that fateful day of 15th December, 2010 when the first oil in commercial quantity was drilled in Ghana from the Jubilee Fields.
The implications of immense natural resources in many countries abound for us to see. One crucial example is that of DR Congo whose landmass and quantum of enviable natural resources, arguable though, unparallel non else. But what has become of her people? The resource curse phenomenon, indeed, has been the identification marker of many highly endured nations. We in Ghana have been so much assured by our leaders that ours will not be a curse but a blessing. Since this landmark ceremony of drilling oil in commercial quantities, there has been three liftings of oil from our oil fields by the government of Ghana/Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. The question that comes to mind is how far have we come?
Being an ardent believer of ‘the school of not having to reinvent the wheel to succeed despite not compromising the power of creativity’, I will certainly say that we have so much to learn from the countries that are already making it big in this industry. One cannot in this regard but use the glorious and not only admirable but also exceptionally fantastic case of the best place to live on earth, Norway. Yes, that is how the UN Human Development Index puts it! Norway is the first country on the list of the just released (2011) indicators of human development, according to the UN.
Similar to the case of Ghana, some failed attempts were made in their bid to drill oil with the first major discovery in the summer of 1966 having to dry up. Yes, it got dried up. Later, in 1969, the Ekofisk field was discovered and it was here that that which will turn the hitherto “potato” based economy to one that will be the topmost ranked country of the world in human development in 2011. On 15th June, 1971, official production started on this field. Many other fields started been found almost a year after this. Then they adopted the principle of 50% state participation in any production licence in the country. Again, they knew that they were unskilled in the new business but must take over the industry if they would ever want to make the best out of it. So they employed expatriates who came to start working on the fields but not without the conscious effort of getting the citizens to take over the industry as soonest as possible. What do we hear in Ghana about this today? One cannot forget the usual rhetoric of “local content”. Is it a conscious one just like our heroes in Norway have done or it’s an unconscious one just like our ‘failed seniors’ in Nigeria and other places are doing? Wait a minute! The Norwegians did not keep to this principle. After some few years of using this, it was amended; the country’s parliament will at each moment determines the percentage of the nation’s participation and ownership of fields, pipelines and onshore facilities depending on prevailing conditions. This goes without saying that, with the passage of time, their involvement will increase. Has it? Yes, it has! This is just because they have gotten the needed knowledge in doing so. Why will she not be the best place to live on earth today?
When the first oil was lifted in 1971 in Norway which was 0.4 million standard cubic metre oil equivalents, the export value obtained was 75 million Norwegian kroner (GH¢20.63 million). For Ghana, the first lifting of 995,259 barrels of Jubilee crude from the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah which was carried by the MV Poetic, a Greek flagged vessel, at 22.12 GMT on 9th March, 2011 to the US for Sun International, a subsidiary of Sunoco Inc. brought in about US $110 million. In 2011, the petroleum industry is contributing more than NOK 3 billion (GH¢ 0.83 billion) to the Norwegian economy. This is after 40 years of production. The question for deliberation again is what will we say after 40 years if we should still be in the petroleum business?
Again, one cannot talk about the Norwegian oil without mentioning the “10 oil commandments”. These are highly thought through and strategically, nationally placed, guidelines that regulate this industry in Norway. Just take a look at the first 3 of the “commandments”: National supervision and control must be ensured for all operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, petroleum discoveries must be exploited in a way which makes Norway as independent as possible of others for its supplies of crude oil and new industry will be developed on the basis of petroleum. Have they developed the new industry they have wished for in these four decades of oil production? An emphatic YES will surely attract three points to this question. Listen to how the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy puts: “These resources belong to the Norwegian state, and they must benefit the entire Norwegian society. This has been the foundation for how our petroleum has been managed since the 1960s”. What are we doing? Do you still remember the many ‘noises’ that characterised the preparation of the working documents such as the Petroleum Revenue Laws and Regulations for our equivalent industry? When the Norwegians were talking about national interest, we were busily talking about party interest. Yes, we did. While the administration in power says it is doing the right thing, the opposition thinks it must be seen to be opposing, so let the opposing force be sent to work. To me, this is one great area we have failed as a people. We have and are almost always ready to give the highest sense of patriotism and allegiance to our ethnic groups than the country that binds us all. How can we come together if we continue to think along this line? This, again, is in sharp contrast to what our heroes are doing out there. The mere making of noise about one being a patriotic Ghanaian indicates not even the smallest iota of patriotism to Ghana. It must be shown in our attitudes and efforts in wanting to make Ghana better at all times. I will talk about this some other day.
In talking about the black gold, certainly maritime boundary disputes cannot be left out. Here, the Caspian, where Azerbaijan, Iran and Russian are in conflicts, comes to mind. As should be expected, luminaries in the industry using the “theory” of not having to reinvent the wheel should have worked on clearly drawing all our maritime boundaries at the time we had the greatest indication of entering into this industry. It, therefore, was a surprise when Cote D’Ivoire rose up one day to hold claim to part of the oil fields. Oh! Do we need to get ourselves into this? Quickly, efforts were put in place to solve this unwarranted problem again courtesy our retroactive mindset. Pretty unexpectedly, about a fortnight ago, we woke up to the news of our immediate Western neighbours still claiming ownership of many of the fields along that stretch of our maritime boundary including Tullow Oil's Jubilee, Owo Tweneboa and Enyenra discoveries. Why wouldn’t our experts in this field engage their Ivorian counterparts in the signing of international treaties and if need be bring in the UN that will prevent any further disturbance? In this New Year, let the thought of the future of the old days of you the old man and the glorious moments of the youth of Ghana and the dazzling days of the many unborn Ghanaians inspire you who have the mandate of the people to work on solving this crisis awake you. See, the future of all these people and that of your own old days lie in your hand. Arise!
Today, Norway does not only takes pride in being the best place to live on earth but takes pleasure in training the human resource base of many countries in all the continents of the world as well as contributing numerous humanitarian services to many disadvantaged people on the globe among others. It has one of the best scholarship schemes in the world that help students from many places on the globe including Europe, Asia and Africa. In Africa, students from countries such as Ethiopia, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana benefit from these scholarship schemes. For some years now, there have been many Ghanaian students who come to study for their graduate and postgraduate programmes in the major universities in Norway on these scholarship schemes. If a country such as this is ready to assist people of all shades, why can’t the leaders of our Land over the years also work toward nothing but the true betterment of the lives of the Ghanaian people?
Norway’s case has been a decision of value creation and a sense of working towards the true improvement of the lives of her people. Do you ever imagine these people also can use the oil revenues for parochial interests? Folk, I tell you, they can.
I do not share in the belief that our oil find will be the panacea to the plethora of challenges we are confronted with as a people. But one thing I know and that is we can make substantial improvement in the life of the Ghanaian if our leaders adopt the right attitude towards the management of our oil find. Again, once we are able to change our ways of doing things especially with regards to mismanagement in this industry, I believe it will have a rippling effect on the other areas of our national life. Certainly, we will be better off as a people in the years ahead.
As the honourable Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy puts it “our stewardship of Norway’s petroleum resources has been a success” in the 2011 edition of Facts: the Norwegian Petroleum Sector, I challenge our leaders this day to strive for the best in this industry so that in the few years to come we will have a better way to tell our story.
As we get to the elections this year, let us prove that it is about Ghana, it is about how the lives of Ghanaians can be made better and certainly it is about what we will leave behind for the next generation and not about who wins. Let the winner win as the will of the people shall reveal and let these things be achieved.
In one voice, I join with the many out there who still believe that Ghana is a place where we can all make it once we all especially our leaders set our minds to the unchangeable truth that it is not about individuals but about Ghana and reaffirm our resolve and say that YES, WE CAN.
Buddy, remember, your thought today can make the world (Ghana) better tomorrow. Wish you the best of the New Year, 2012. May God bless Ghana and make our nation even greater and stronger.
Lawer Egbenya
(edlaw19@gmail.com /www.modernghana.com/author/daniellaweregbenya)
In the afternoon of that day, the airwaves in Ghana were inundated with what most people have christened the greatest developmental discovery in post-colonial era in Ghana, my Land of birth. I remember very well on that day how those of us who did not have the opportunity to either listen to the radio or watch TV as the management of Kosmos Energy show to His Excellency, the president of the Republic, the newly discovered black gold, oil, in commercial quantities in the shores of Ghana specifically the Jubilee Fields. What a great feeling it was to having realised that we may also very soon be a proud member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). This was in June, 2007. Even the worst enemy of Ghana will on this day celebrate with us because much work has been done towards the exploration of oil in commercial quantities since pre-colonial era and especially in the 1980s.
We kept our faith and God being ever faithful to us brought it into great fruition on that fateful day of 15th December, 2010 when the first oil in commercial quantity was drilled in Ghana from the Jubilee Fields.
The implications of immense natural resources in many countries abound for us to see. One crucial example is that of DR Congo whose landmass and quantum of enviable natural resources, arguable though, unparallel non else. But what has become of her people? The resource curse phenomenon, indeed, has been the identification marker of many highly endured nations. We in Ghana have been so much assured by our leaders that ours will not be a curse but a blessing. Since this landmark ceremony of drilling oil in commercial quantities, there has been three liftings of oil from our oil fields by the government of Ghana/Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. The question that comes to mind is how far have we come?
Being an ardent believer of ‘the school of not having to reinvent the wheel to succeed despite not compromising the power of creativity’, I will certainly say that we have so much to learn from the countries that are already making it big in this industry. One cannot in this regard but use the glorious and not only admirable but also exceptionally fantastic case of the best place to live on earth, Norway. Yes, that is how the UN Human Development Index puts it! Norway is the first country on the list of the just released (2011) indicators of human development, according to the UN.
Similar to the case of Ghana, some failed attempts were made in their bid to drill oil with the first major discovery in the summer of 1966 having to dry up. Yes, it got dried up. Later, in 1969, the Ekofisk field was discovered and it was here that that which will turn the hitherto “potato” based economy to one that will be the topmost ranked country of the world in human development in 2011. On 15th June, 1971, official production started on this field. Many other fields started been found almost a year after this. Then they adopted the principle of 50% state participation in any production licence in the country. Again, they knew that they were unskilled in the new business but must take over the industry if they would ever want to make the best out of it. So they employed expatriates who came to start working on the fields but not without the conscious effort of getting the citizens to take over the industry as soonest as possible. What do we hear in Ghana about this today? One cannot forget the usual rhetoric of “local content”. Is it a conscious one just like our heroes in Norway have done or it’s an unconscious one just like our ‘failed seniors’ in Nigeria and other places are doing? Wait a minute! The Norwegians did not keep to this principle. After some few years of using this, it was amended; the country’s parliament will at each moment determines the percentage of the nation’s participation and ownership of fields, pipelines and onshore facilities depending on prevailing conditions. This goes without saying that, with the passage of time, their involvement will increase. Has it? Yes, it has! This is just because they have gotten the needed knowledge in doing so. Why will she not be the best place to live on earth today?
When the first oil was lifted in 1971 in Norway which was 0.4 million standard cubic metre oil equivalents, the export value obtained was 75 million Norwegian kroner (GH¢20.63 million). For Ghana, the first lifting of 995,259 barrels of Jubilee crude from the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah which was carried by the MV Poetic, a Greek flagged vessel, at 22.12 GMT on 9th March, 2011 to the US for Sun International, a subsidiary of Sunoco Inc. brought in about US $110 million. In 2011, the petroleum industry is contributing more than NOK 3 billion (GH¢ 0.83 billion) to the Norwegian economy. This is after 40 years of production. The question for deliberation again is what will we say after 40 years if we should still be in the petroleum business?
Again, one cannot talk about the Norwegian oil without mentioning the “10 oil commandments”. These are highly thought through and strategically, nationally placed, guidelines that regulate this industry in Norway. Just take a look at the first 3 of the “commandments”: National supervision and control must be ensured for all operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, petroleum discoveries must be exploited in a way which makes Norway as independent as possible of others for its supplies of crude oil and new industry will be developed on the basis of petroleum. Have they developed the new industry they have wished for in these four decades of oil production? An emphatic YES will surely attract three points to this question. Listen to how the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy puts: “These resources belong to the Norwegian state, and they must benefit the entire Norwegian society. This has been the foundation for how our petroleum has been managed since the 1960s”. What are we doing? Do you still remember the many ‘noises’ that characterised the preparation of the working documents such as the Petroleum Revenue Laws and Regulations for our equivalent industry? When the Norwegians were talking about national interest, we were busily talking about party interest. Yes, we did. While the administration in power says it is doing the right thing, the opposition thinks it must be seen to be opposing, so let the opposing force be sent to work. To me, this is one great area we have failed as a people. We have and are almost always ready to give the highest sense of patriotism and allegiance to our ethnic groups than the country that binds us all. How can we come together if we continue to think along this line? This, again, is in sharp contrast to what our heroes are doing out there. The mere making of noise about one being a patriotic Ghanaian indicates not even the smallest iota of patriotism to Ghana. It must be shown in our attitudes and efforts in wanting to make Ghana better at all times. I will talk about this some other day.
In talking about the black gold, certainly maritime boundary disputes cannot be left out. Here, the Caspian, where Azerbaijan, Iran and Russian are in conflicts, comes to mind. As should be expected, luminaries in the industry using the “theory” of not having to reinvent the wheel should have worked on clearly drawing all our maritime boundaries at the time we had the greatest indication of entering into this industry. It, therefore, was a surprise when Cote D’Ivoire rose up one day to hold claim to part of the oil fields. Oh! Do we need to get ourselves into this? Quickly, efforts were put in place to solve this unwarranted problem again courtesy our retroactive mindset. Pretty unexpectedly, about a fortnight ago, we woke up to the news of our immediate Western neighbours still claiming ownership of many of the fields along that stretch of our maritime boundary including Tullow Oil's Jubilee, Owo Tweneboa and Enyenra discoveries. Why wouldn’t our experts in this field engage their Ivorian counterparts in the signing of international treaties and if need be bring in the UN that will prevent any further disturbance? In this New Year, let the thought of the future of the old days of you the old man and the glorious moments of the youth of Ghana and the dazzling days of the many unborn Ghanaians inspire you who have the mandate of the people to work on solving this crisis awake you. See, the future of all these people and that of your own old days lie in your hand. Arise!
Today, Norway does not only takes pride in being the best place to live on earth but takes pleasure in training the human resource base of many countries in all the continents of the world as well as contributing numerous humanitarian services to many disadvantaged people on the globe among others. It has one of the best scholarship schemes in the world that help students from many places on the globe including Europe, Asia and Africa. In Africa, students from countries such as Ethiopia, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana benefit from these scholarship schemes. For some years now, there have been many Ghanaian students who come to study for their graduate and postgraduate programmes in the major universities in Norway on these scholarship schemes. If a country such as this is ready to assist people of all shades, why can’t the leaders of our Land over the years also work toward nothing but the true betterment of the lives of the Ghanaian people?
Norway’s case has been a decision of value creation and a sense of working towards the true improvement of the lives of her people. Do you ever imagine these people also can use the oil revenues for parochial interests? Folk, I tell you, they can.
I do not share in the belief that our oil find will be the panacea to the plethora of challenges we are confronted with as a people. But one thing I know and that is we can make substantial improvement in the life of the Ghanaian if our leaders adopt the right attitude towards the management of our oil find. Again, once we are able to change our ways of doing things especially with regards to mismanagement in this industry, I believe it will have a rippling effect on the other areas of our national life. Certainly, we will be better off as a people in the years ahead.
As the honourable Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy puts it “our stewardship of Norway’s petroleum resources has been a success” in the 2011 edition of Facts: the Norwegian Petroleum Sector, I challenge our leaders this day to strive for the best in this industry so that in the few years to come we will have a better way to tell our story.
As we get to the elections this year, let us prove that it is about Ghana, it is about how the lives of Ghanaians can be made better and certainly it is about what we will leave behind for the next generation and not about who wins. Let the winner win as the will of the people shall reveal and let these things be achieved.
In one voice, I join with the many out there who still believe that Ghana is a place where we can all make it once we all especially our leaders set our minds to the unchangeable truth that it is not about individuals but about Ghana and reaffirm our resolve and say that YES, WE CAN.
Buddy, remember, your thought today can make the world (Ghana) better tomorrow. Wish you the best of the New Year, 2012. May God bless Ghana and make our nation even greater and stronger.
Lawer Egbenya
(edlaw19@gmail.com /www.modernghana.com/author/daniellaweregbenya)
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