With the current global economic climate, aren’t we all glad that Ghana “nsa aka oh, yensa aka” oil!

After a heated trek on the streets of Accra one sunny day, I stopped by the central post office to catch my breadth and escape the tyranny of the scorching sun. As if by design, two cute youngsters appeared on the scene engaged in a conversation I could not help but eavesdrop on.

The crux of their conversation hinged on Ghana’s oil! As young as they were, their analysis of Ghana’s discovery of black gold had a twist I could not help but admire. “Ghana is rich” was what they kept stressing! I began to wonder when the real money sharing would begin! Is Ghana’s discovery of oil the answer to our problems? Or should I say, how would the discovery of oil translate into cash in your pocket?

As a matter of fact, black gold is not the first precious natural resource Ghana possesses! We have Gold, Cocoa, Bauxite, Timber, abundance of arable land great for agricultural production, among others. How did these translate into cash in your pocket?

How many of Ghana’s youth are willing to till Ghana’s fertile soil to enrich themselves? Not to mention the numerous money making ventures (the use of saw dust from timber, investing in cocoa farming, vegetable faming and many more) Ghanaians allow to lie fallow on a daily basis because they look elsewhere for so called greener pastures. Forgetting that the grass is greener where you water it! You obviously have not reaped from Ghana’s existing natural resources because you have not strategically positioned yourself to benefit from the abundance nature affords!

The fact remains; Ghana’s oil find would mean nothing to you if you do not position yourself strategically to fit into the sector! How can you strengthen your existing competencies to fit into the sector? Are you a journalist, what do you know about petroleum industry reporting? Perhaps you are an engineer, can you specialize in petrochemical engineering? How many security companies and agencies have taken courses in efficient securing of oil fields (fire safety measures and fire fighting infrastructure acquisition, policing etc)? The petroleum industry would certainly need special protective clothing and supplies, how many entrepreneurs have taken the time to research on what these are? Just to mention a few. Or are you waiting for the sector to be dominated by foreign experts and businessmen?—YOU DECIDE!

So I ask, “Yen sa aka, Yensa aka—Oil”! But “Wo sika no wo he”?

By: Aba Ghana Email: Abaghana@gmail.com