Norwegian Minister talks about oil to Joselyn Dumas on The One Show

The One Show on VIASAT 1 this week scored yet another first when the primetime television programme, hosted the Norwegian Minister of Environment, Development and Corporation, Erik Solheim. Anchored by Joselyn Dumas, the interview session touched on the sensitive issue of Oil and Gas exploration in Ghana and how the country can benefit from the expected revenue.

Mr. Solheim lauded Ghana’s relatively stable environment and improved economic indicators, and also tasked the government to do more since there is enough that the country can reap from the exploration of oil and gas in commercial quantities.

He said the only way Ghana could match up to the success story of oil producing countries, is to adhere to international best practices, using Turkey and China as examples and also, ensure that there is transparency, equity and development at all levels.

The astute politician who spent some 11 years in the Norwegian parliament said although the benefits of the exploration won’t be realized in the short term, when the country starts raking in a lot of revenue years later, the government must ensure that the overriding priority must be the Ghanaian people: “Utilizing and reaping from the benefits of oil and gas cannot be done in one day. The revenue belongs to the people of Ghana and not the politician,” he told Joselyn.

Mr. Solheim who said he was prevailed upon in 2007 by ex-UN boss Kofi Annan to assist and share in the experience of the exploration in Ghana said he is glad that several years after the discovery, the country is ready to take off, one which he is optimistic, would trigger an economic boost that would help eradicate poverty and also provide education for the ordinary Ghanaian child.

“Ghana on any day is a success story but we must strive hard to get the children into the classrooms”.

He however called on the government’s agencies in charge of the environment to act as a watchdog on the activities of the oil companies since that was the only way the country can ensure that while making profits, the environment on which the exploration is being done, is not destroyed.

“Ghana shouldn’t follow the bad example of those countries that destroy the environment under the excuse of generating income. “We can still generate revenue by not destroying the environment,” he said.

While he bemoaned the recent uprising in Ivory Coast, the wish of the Norwegian government according to Solheim, is to see a better Africa.

Erik Solheim is a household name in Norway with an impressive political resume. In the past, he contributed to the peace process in Sri Lanka.