Accra, Sept. 16, GNA - Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area, has called Government to encourage investment in the entire Western Nzema District in the wake of the oil find.

He, together with his people, has welcomed the oil strike, but pointed out that the location was Efasu, the closest town offshore, 65 kilometres away from where the oil would be drilled.

Efasu is in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on development concerns in the Western Nzema, Awulae Adjaye said there was credible information from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) of the find in the Tano Basin, but added that, the closest town to the find was Efasu, where the Osagyefo Barge was located rather than Cape Three Points as publicized. "The generality of the people are not against the oil find itself, but the youth are agitated over investment that is skewed more in favour of Cape Three Points.

He called for the upgrading of the harbour, the warehousing facilities and the rehabilitation of roads in the Jomoro District, adding that the concentration of development in Cape Three Points was a serious disadvantage to the people in the Jomoro District. Awulae Adjaye contended that if there were any oil spillage or pollution related to the oil find, the people of Efasu, and for that matter the Jomoro District, would naturally suffer more than any other community in the coastal belt.

This, he said, called for investment and development drive for the people of the Jomoro District in the interest of fairness. The Paramount Chief, who is also the President of the Nzema Maanle Council, announced that the Council was ready to partner investors for development of the area.

"The large majority of the people need employment as well as training programmes to develop the capacity of the youth to take advantage of the oil find," Awulae Adjaye said. Meanwhile, the Paramount Chief has announced that Members of the Board of Trustees of the Kwame Nkrumah Education Fund were to be removed for not redeeming their promise.

This, he said, had lead to an outstanding unpaid GHC 20,000 in respect of payment of fees for brilliant but needy pupils and students. Awulae Adyaye said the decision for the removal of the trustees was taken at the last meeting of the Council held on August 23, 2008, explaining that the trustees had not run the fund successfully. He expressed his appreciation to President John Agyekum Kufour for releasing of GHC 5,000 through the Regional Co-ordinating Council for the award of scholarships in the region. The Paramount Chief appealed for the tarring of the Alabokazo to Tikobo coastal Road, which linked Ellebelle and Jomoro. 16 Sept. 08