Volta Region Have High Oil Prospects

A DEPUTY Minister for Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that the Volta region has high oil prospects in the country. He reiterated calls by many experts that the voltaic basin which stretches from Ada through to Keta and other communities along the coast line of the region had the potential to produce oil. Mr. Ablakwa said as a result of these prospects, feverish and significant exploratory works were currently ongoing in the area. He made the disclosure at Ho on Monday when he launched the maiden Regional Policy Fair to be held in the municipality later this week. The fair which will end on Saturday is under the theme �Empowering the People as we build a Better Ghana.� Mr. Ablakwa said the decentralisation of the fair to the regions was as a result of President Mills� directive to make sure the success of the first two national fairs is replicated across the country. He announced that the four-day fair will also have special morning and afternoon dialogue sessions and presentations on some topics to create an avenue for the people to make inputs and critique some of the policy initiatives. He said it would also form a platform for an effective partnership between the public and the private sector to harness potentials of the region. The deputy minister noted that decentralized departments and agencies, as well as municipal and district assemblies would showcase their policies, projects and activities to the people of the region and should gather feedback on them for government�s attention. He disclosed that the fair will provide the public with a one stop access to all government departments and agencies, as well as the municipal and district assemblies in the region. Mr. Ablakwa was hopeful the fair would also give an opportunity to people of the region to make a direct assessment of government�s performance through the regional institutions. The fair, which will create a conducive environment for dialogue between policy makers and implementers as well as those affected by such policies, will also take place in the Ashanti and Northern regions this year and other regions next year. Mr. Ablakwa appealed to the media to professionally disseminate information pertaining to governance to ensure open, transparent and accountable leadership. The Volta Regional Minister, Joseph Amenowode also appealed to the media to adequately inform and educate the masses on the event as well as developments in the region to ensure an enhanced understanding of the �Better Ghana Agenda.� Mr. Amenowode, who acknowledged the importance of the media in making the event a success, also urged them to join the general public to actively participate in the fair. Participants at the launch advised the organizers to bring on board local radio stations to ensure effective dissemination of the information to the grassroots. Topics to be presented at fair include, �The Better Ghana Agenda: The Volta Regional Experience,� �Modernizing Agriculture to Feed Ghana: The Role of the Volta Region,� �Harnessing the Tourism Potentials of the Volta region for Enhanced Socioeconomic Development� and �Oil Production in Ghana: Opportunities yet untapped� (the Volta Region Experience).