Indigenes of Western Region have complained bitterly about being “grossly cheated” as far as the distribution of Ghana Gas’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects is concerned.
A charity group representing the interest of people from the Western Region, Shaip Africa Foundation is especially unhappy with the decision by Ghana Gas and Quantum Terminal to construct a 200-bed hospital at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) while considering constructing only a 20-bed hospital worth $2.86 million for Aiyinase community in the Western Region.
The Foundation has therefore rejected the construction of the 20-bed hospital, saying emphatically that “Nzemalands deserve the best and not the worst.”
According to the CEO of Shaip Africa Foundation, Dr. Clement Clinton Blay, considering the potential adverse effects of oil and gas exploration at Atuabo on Nzemas, people from Nzemalands deserve much more than just a 20-bed health facility.
Ghana Gas company and Quantum Terminal as part of their cooperate social responsibilities, cut sod for the construction of $2.86 million 20-bed health facility for Aiyinase community in the Western region.
Similar project funded by Ghana Gas is to commence at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) with a 200-bed health facility.
For these reason the Chief Executive Officer for Shaip Africa Foundation, Dr. Clement Clinton Blay found it cheating and discriminatory when Ghana Gas company cut sod to support 200-bed hospital at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani.
He said, the good people of Aiyinase if nothing at all, ought to have been rewarded with the 200-bed health facility to merit a fair share of the proceeds from the oil and gas situated on their lands.
This is because, Dr. Blay reveals to journalists that the 2022 population statistics of Aiyinasi community currently stood at about 11,000 considering over 30 surrounding communities to use the facility as a referral center adding up to over 50,000 beneficiaries as far as health issues in Aiyinase is concerned.
Dr. Blay said, it’s unfair for UENR which he claimed has a population less than 11,000 to Aiyinasi alone will benefit from a 200 bed whiles that of the people of Aiyinase is earmarked for 20 beds to serve as a referral center.
He said, looking at the statistics, the proposed 20-bed health center for the people of Aiyinase won’t be enough to ease the pressure on the only district hospital at Ekwei, thus, patients will still travel far to access certain secondary health care.
He emphasized that Nzema is known to be the leading oil and gas producing community in Ghana but unfortunately, infrastructural development has eluded them for many years.
The chief executive officer mentioned that the lack of adequate school infrastructure, bad roads and environmental issues such as air pollution and other infrastructural facilities as some of the major challenges confronting the people of Aiyinase and the entire Nzemaland.
The group is therefore calling on Ghana Gas company and Quantum Terminal to increase the number of beds at Aiyinase health facility to avoid treating them with the outmost disrespect because the two companies are making elephantine profits on their lands.