Koforidua, April 23, GNA - The Omanhene of the New Juaben Tradition= al Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng has suggested that since the oil wells could d= ry up after some years, a substantial amount of the oil revenue should be us= ed to develop solar energy in the country.

He explained that since solar energy could be tapped unending, a w= ell developed solar energy base could replace the oil and gas energy in futur= e and the country would either increase its energy revenue or replace the energy from the oil and gas industry when it got exhausted Daasebre Oti Boateng gave the advice in his contribution at a publi= c forum in Koforidua on the local content and local participation in the formulation of policy on oil and gas operations. He called for efforts to ensure the participation of the local communities and their traditional authorities in various aspects of the o= il and gas industry. Daasebre Oti Boateng said that would make people not to feel discriminated against but make them to support the investments in the industry and protect them. He said the oil and gas industry required heavy capital outlay and,=

therefore, appealed to the Government to get the local banks to form a consortium to raise huge capital to support local businessmen and women w= ho wanted to invest in the oil and gas industry.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo called on the Ministry of Energy to liaise with the Information Services Department to get the information that was presented at the forum to the grassroots for as many people as possible to be informed about the oil and gas industry in the country. He called for guidance on the content of the oil and gas engineerin= g course being pursued at the All Nations University College in Koforidua, the only private university in the country that had been granted accreditatio= n by the National Accreditation Board to run such a programme.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said that would ensure that the products of the University would be employable in the oil and gas industry when they completed school. Mr Kweku Boateng of the Ministry of Energy observed that the initia= l revenue from the mining of 120,000 barrels of oil a day was not enough to=

change the fortunes of the country overnight. However, with time he said, it was possible for the citizens of the country to feel a significant change in their lifestyles and the faciliti= es available and therefore called for effective management of the expectatio= n of Ghanaians from the oil find.