The availability of natural resources has always been a significant contributory factor for the socio-economic development of the areas where they are found and, by extension, the nation-state within whose jurisdiction they exist.
However, the manner and extent of exploitation of these resources, the ownership structure and control of the instruments or institutions exploiting them, the extent of retention and use of the wealth so generated, among others, are decisive in influencing the quality of life of the people of those areas where they are found.
There is no doubt that Ghana abounds in substantial mineral wealth whose exploitation over the many decades of the nation’s existence has left in its wake a legacy of mixed blessings.
While mining has generated a lot of wealth for the nation and also enhanced its share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings, it has left in its wake a number of untold negative consequences for the communities where such exploitation goes on.
One just needs to take a cursory look at some mining communities, especially areas where galamsey is carried out, to appreciate the extent of destruction of water bodies, farmlands, forests, among others.
The deciding factors, therefore, have been whether or not the political system is willing and ready to work to secure a significant share and control of the mineral wealth and put it to good use for the generality of the people of the country.
The example of the difference in development between Obuasi and Johannesburg in South Africa, both of which are anchored on gold mining but with the former lacking in infrastructure and socio-economic development and the latter cited as a showpiece of progress in Africa and even the world, bears enough testimony to this assertion.
It is acknowledged that a lot of the country’s mineral wealth, ranging from bauxite, through gold and now oil, comes from the Western Region.
It has always been our contention that since Ghana is a sovereign, independent and unitary state, it behoves the government, as the trustee of the nation’s resources, to exploit and harmonise the benefits of resources from all parts of the country to pursue and realise a programme of balanced development for all the regions.
It is only in the pooling of such resources and their proper and efficient use that the interests and aspirations of all our people for a more dignified life could be met and sustained.
This is why we are elated at the action of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to commence a comprehensive needs assessment programme to tackle serious development challenges in the Western Corridor of the country embracing the Central and Western regions.
The programme is expected to ensure the rapid infrastructure and other development of the area as the nation gets set to pour its first oil (see front page).
In commending this move, we take notice of the implementation of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) which is designed to accelerate economic development and substantially reduce poverty in the three northern regions, as well as parts of the Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
We believe that this development should provide a healthy platform for the chiefs from the Western Region who recently advocated for a 10 per cent share of the oil revenue for the development of the area to team up with the government to ensure the realisation of this laudable project.
After all, the common objective is to ensure the infrastructure and general socio-economic development of the Western Region and Ghana as a whole.
We, however, wish to urge the government to endeavour to speed up the assessment process so that whatever projects and programmes are needed will be carried out faster and sooner than later.
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