By P. K. Yankey
Sanzule (W/R), March 11, GNA – Communities in the catchment area of ENi Ghana, an oil and gas operator at Sanzule, near Eikwe in the Ellembelle District, have been engaged on the impact of the company’s operations.
The engagement formed part of measures to streamline operations of ENi Ghana by fostering closer collaboration and partnership between the Company and the communities in the catchment area especially Sanzule where the project is sited.
This came to light when a joint monitoring team made up of the Ellembelle District Assembly, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the auspices of Friends of the Nation (FoN) and OXFAM International, engaged old Bakanta and Sanzule communities on the impact of ENi Ghana operations in the catchment area.
The engagement afforded the team the opportunity to assess the operational impact of ENi Ghana in the catchment area and how concerns affected by communities especially Sanzule where the project was sited for oil and gas explorations could be addressed.
The two-day event elicited responses from selected members of the communities as well as traditional rulers.
Some of the concerns raised during the engagement, were the need for ENi Ghana to construct the road from old Bakanta to Sanzule, the construction of drains in the Sanzule township to curb perennial flooding, help mitigate the heat waves especially at Sanzule, as well as respect the local content policy.
The local content notice would be realised by giving a quota of employment to people in the area with special reference to indigenes of Sanzule.
Mr William Augustine-Denkyi, a Project Officer with FoN, said the team would serve as interface to engage the communities and ENi Ghana in the coming days to fashion out modalities on how the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of ENi Ghana had impacted the communities and strengthen relationship between the Company and the communities.
He said the outcome of that engagement would be a win-win situation as it would ensure a fruitful collaboration between ENi Ghana and the communities in their operational enclave.
Nana Kemese, Manle Kpanyinli of Sanzule, appealed to ENi to construct town roads with gutters to halt the flooding situation in the town.
Nana Kemese said the town has a lot of concerns, but the company does not seem to respond to them.
According to him, Ghana Gas had responded to the concerns of other towns except Sanzule because ENi was operating in the town the former was waiting for Ghana Gas to deal with problems in Sanzule.
Manle Kpanyinli Kemese said the heat in the town emanating from activities of ENi was unbearable.
He also reminded the company to respect the local content policy.
Manle Kpanyinli Kemese expressed concern that their youth were not employed by the Company.
GNA
JP/BM