Some residents of Saltpond in the Central Region have also joined the current “no development, no vote” chorus, with barely three months to the elections, demanding their share of proceeds from the Saltpond Offshore Crude Oil Producing Company.
They accuse the current and previous governments of depriving them of the basic necessities due them, despite the revenue accrued from the Saltpond Offshore Crude Oil Producing Company.
Some communities in the country in recent times have threatened not to vote in the upcoming general election; if the necessary development projects are not implemented.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the President of the Saltpond Forum, Dr. Ransford Gyampo, asked government to provide them with updates on the revenues from the company or risk losing their vote.
“We sensed a gradual grand but surreptitious scheme to relocate the municipal capital to Mankessim simply because of Saltpond’s stalled development. We believe this approach is very irresponsible and a defeating solution to a problem that can easily be tackled to honour the role and contribution of Saltpond towards Ghana’s development.”
He further called on government and presidential hopefuls to come to their aid else they would advice themselves.
“We call on government and indeed all presidential hopefuls to immediately turn their attention to Ghana’s political Mecca. We have been abandoned for far too long and today we are prepared to mobilise the good people of Saltpond to boycott the upcoming general elections in protest against their marginalization, if we do not see any sign of concern from the ruling government and the opposition,” he added.
About Saltpond
Saltpond is the capital of the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.
The area is noted for offshore crude oil resources. Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited, and two joint venture partners operate the Saltpond Oil Field.
Saltpond Oil Field faces closure
Meanwhile the Saltpond Oil Field, Ghana’s oldest oil producing field, was to be decommissioned this year because of its inability to turn around its dwindling fortunes and remain economically viable.
Oil production from the field, which is about 65 miles west of Accra and operated by the Saltpond Offshore Production Company Limited, has declined consistently, hence considerations for a closure.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin