Even though the oil find might be a blessing to Ghana and could enhance national development, it has the potential to severely disrupt and destroy livelihoods of several coastal and fishing fringe communities.
This was contained in a communiqu� issued by the National Agri-business Development Program (NADEP) to Government through GNA after a day's seminar, organized by the NADEP in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, in Cape Coast on Friday.
Stakeholders in the fishing industry participated in the event that was on the theme: "the implications of oil find in Ghana on the fishing business in the Central Region".
The communiqu�, which was signed by all the participants was read by Dr Edward Ntifo-Siaw, Senior Lecturer at the Sasakawa Center of the University of Cape Coast.
It said that potential oil leaks, location of drilling equipment and related pollutants could destroy fragile ecosystems, fish habitats and marine creatures.
It called on Government as well as the oil and gas companies to adequately compensate affected fisher folks as part of seeking their long-term welfare.
The communiqu� called for support packages for affected fisher folks should include scholarships and bursaries for their children and an Alternative Livelihood Fund should be set up on permanent basis to provide resources for affected persons to enable them go into viable alternative livelihoods activities.
It suggested that alternative livelihood projects should include fish, snail, bee, poultry or grass cutter farming and the capacities of the affected persons should be built to enable them to run the projects as business ventures "along the fish value chain."
The statement asked the Ghana National Petroleum Company, oil and gas companies, as well as the Ministry of Energy to intensify their public education and awareness programs in coastal and fishing communities while mitigation methods and measures based on international standards be set to ensure minimal harm to marine resources and communities.