Investment in Western Region Will Prevent Insurgencies – Okyere-Darko | General news

The Minister-designate for the Western region, Mr. Kwabena Okyere-Darko, suggested the continued commitment of the people of the Western region and investments in the region to help prevent unrest such as those observed in the ” Niger Delta ”in Nigeria. .

Conflict in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region erupted in the early 1990s due to tensions between foreign oil companies and a number of minority ethnic groups in the Niger Delta who felt exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw.

The struggle for oil wealth has fueled the violence between ethnic groups, leading to the militarization of almost the entire region by ethnic militias, Nigerian military and police forces, including the Nigerian mobile police.

The violence has contributed to Nigeria’s current energy supply crisis by discouraging foreign investment in new power plants in the region.

In 2009, a presidential amnesty program accompanied by support and training for former activists proved to be successful.

Until 2011, for example, victims of crime feared seeking justice for crimes committed against them by failing to prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses.

According to Mr. Okyere-Darko, since the discovery of oil in the western region about 10 years ago, people’s expectations have been high; but the chiefs and community leaders were able to educate people to understand that oil was not just for the western region, but for the whole country.

“In the same way as the gold found in Obuasi, the western region and other places is for all Ghanaians… I believe the education went well.

Mr Okyere-Darko made the suggestion when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for verification after President Akufo-Addo appointed him to a cabinet post.

The candidate who is also the deputy (MP) of Takoradi was reappointed for a ministerial appointment in the second term of the administration of President Akufo-Addo for the same ministerial portfolio.

Mr. Okyere-Darko also called for training young men and women in the region to be active in the oil industry to lead meaningful lives.

He urged oil companies to move their headquarters to the region so people have direct engagement with the companies and the oil chain.

Mr Okyere-Darko also said that dividing the western region into two made it compact and more manageable, explaining that in the past it was difficult for a minister to go back and forth across the region in short order. of time.

In addition, the division of the region, he said, made communication easier and activities in 14 other districts could be monitored more easily than before.