Takoradi, Feb. 24, GNA- The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), has engaged students from both second cycle and tertiary institutions on petroleum Resources governance and active citizenship in the Western Region.
The engagement dubbed, “Campus Rally”, was to expose the youth to the grey areas of the resources management, and the need for them to constantly engage duty bearers particularly their Members of Parliament and District Assembly to ensure accountability.
The Campus Rally took place at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU).
Dr. Winfred Adjardjah of the Faculty of Renewable Energy noted how the Technical University Act placed responsibility on them as a university to churn out students in the oil and gas sector.
Ms Maybel Acquaye, the Monitoring and Evaluation officer of the ACEP said, despite the significant contribution of the mineral sector, communities continued to wallow in abject poverty.
She recounted that the sector raked in 60 per cent of export revenue, 14 percent contribution to GDP and 18 percent to total revenue and yet, “we have deplorable host communities”.
“This is why , we are deepening the resources governance knowledge among the population to demand accountability and help prevent the Dutch disease and the resources curse”, She stated
She said Ghana’s resources must be geared towards economic transformation and raising living standards of the citizenry .
Ms Acquaye said at ACEP, their work centered on improving upon revenue governance, contract regime, institutional corporation, climate change issues and diversification and vulnerable population.
The Evaluation officer said over the years, evidence based Advocacy had been the way to help articulate policy need.
She said the engagement with students was also to help build the critical mass for the necessary Development actions.
Mr Kodzo Yaotse, the Policy Lead, ACEP said the country needed intergenerational equity to safeguard the life of future generations.
He added that research has highlighted deficiencies in the resources governance space and the need for Swift action by policy holders to reverse the trend.
Mr Yaotse encouraged the students not to belittle their status but rather engage and advocate change in their response communities.
“Don’t think you are too young to bring change …your little efforts could result in significant changes”.
GNA