Ghana has begun processes to acquire a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) of the Volta basin to help it properly plan for future oil prospects in the enclave.

The move is aimed at evaluating the impact oil exploration will have on the natural resources in the environment, the sociocultural – the way of life of the people, their economic lifestyle and also the institution that are going to be involved in the whole process.

The Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) has begun work at the Volta Basin, which is believed to have a huge oil potential.

The GNPC is currently conducting an environmental assessment impact on the area and upon receiving approval from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) it will begin acquiring a seismic data which is a geographical photograph of the area to spot oil potentials.

But even before the GNPC’s environmental assessment impact is done the EPA has begun comprehensive works to obtain the SEA, which will serve as a guideline for the exploration of the oil and gas in the area.

The Ghanaian team put together is strongly backed by consultants from the Norwegian oil for development program. The final SEA report is scheduled to be ready by 2017. The key issues the team will concentrate itself with will include:

Water resources management

Co-existence with community and other interest/sector

Land acquisition, resettlement and compensation mechanism

Adaptation to climate change

Coordinate with spatial planning and infrastructure development

Capacity building of regional and local government executives