The Public Action Against Corruption and Abuse (PAACA), a political pressure group, has noted that in view of the numerous natural resources including oil and gas exploration in the Western Region, an oil refinery should be constructed in the region.
Addressing the media in Takoradi, Joseph Otoo, Secretary of PAACA, said the region had been short-changed in spite of its massive contribution towards the national economy.
“Western Region has the potential to be the wealthiest region just for the sake of the oil find. As at now, the 10 per cent of oil proceeds promised by President John Mahama and rightly demanded by the Regional House of Chiefs has not been fulfilled”, he noted.
He said the region was still struggling to survive with worsening youth unemployment, bad road network, frequent power outages, acute water shortage, illegal demolitions and harsh economic conditions suffered by the people.
Mr Otoo, therefore, entreated the people of Sekondi-Takoradi to join PAACA to demonstrate against the government over the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz to ensure the reversal of the sale.
He also asked the government to immediately resolve the plight of the people in the region in view of its massive contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Touching on the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz Equity Fund, the Managing Editor of Searchlight Newspaper, Mr Ken Kuranchie, who was a participant at the press briefing, said the sale of the bank lacked transparency and reiterated the call for it to be reversed.
He also asked the government to institute an independent body to investigate the sale of the Bank.
Mr Kuranchie accused the government of massive corruption including GYEEDA, SUBAH, SADA and many other corruption scandals under the current administration.
Source: GNA