OIL COMPANIES ASKED TO LEAVE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS (PAGE 29)

THE Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has expressed grave concern about the use of the Takoradi Airforce Station and the Sekondi Naval Base by oil companies developing the Jubilee Oil Field offshore West Cape Three Points to facilitate their activities.
He explained that for security reasons, it was not the best for the oil companies to use the facilities at the two military installations, and asked that they relocate.
He further explained that the military facilities were to be used to monitor activities offshore.
Mr Aidoo expressed the concern when he visited the regional offices of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in Sekondi.
He said the oil companies should not put pressure on the limited facilities at the Takoradi Airforce Base and the Sekondi Naval Base.
He called on the media to focus on issues which would benefit the people in the region, adding that “let us serve the people properly”.
Mr Aidoo stressed the need to shift from equity to fairness, and that since the Western Region had made great contributions to the country’s economy, the government should give it special dispensation in its development agenda.
He noted that but for the pressure on the region’s feeder road network, they would have lasted longer.
The regional minister said timber trucks, heavy tipper trucks loaded with bauxite and manganese as well as the activities of illegal gold miners were destroying the roads.
The Western Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Mr James Adeaba, explained that the corporation was shifting from public broadcasting service to commercial as a result of lack of funds for periodic maintenance.
He said most often, the government provided broadcasting equipment without funds for regular maintenance.