State of Western Region

….before oil exploration
ARTICLE BY: NANA YIADOM DANQUAH, TAKORADI, W/R

Western Region has a land area of 23,921sq.km representing 10% of total national land size with a population of 1,924,577 of which 42.4% are under 15 years, projected population into 2020 is 4 million. The region’s current growth rate is 3.2% with projection into 2010 as 2,649,060 (37.64%); life expectancy is 56 years with dependency ratio as 88.6% (source 2000 PHC) and its contribution to national GDP is 55%.

Labour force of the region is 1.8m whereas labour force by occupation is 70% in agriculture and 30% in industry and service. It has 22 parliamentary constituencies and traditional paramouncies with 5 ethnic groups (Ahanta, Nzema, Sefwi, Aowin, Suaman and Wassa) and has 1 metropolitan, 2 municipal and 14 district assemblies with Sekondi-Takoradi as its capital.

Educational institutions in the region is as follows Kindergartens – 1,759, Primary – 1,826, JHS – 1,065, SHS – 41, Teacher Training College – 3, Nursing/Midwifery Training College – 3, University – 1 and Polytechnic – 1. Available health institutions are 325. The breakdown is as follows Hospital (26), Polyclinic (2), Health Centers (59), CHPS Compound (107), Clinics (161) and 20 Maternal Homes. However, there are 1,210 nurses and 68 doctors with doctor-patient ratio as 1:32,211.
The region tops in the production of cocoa, rubber and coconut and has well suited areas for oil palm production and ranks second in oil palm production in the country. It is endowed with rich minerals like gold, diamond, manganese, bauxite among others that are being harnessed. However, about 60% of all road conditions are poor, 39.49% roads are good, 22.21% are fair and 38.39% are poor.
It possesses the greatest tourism potential in Ghana even though only few are being harnessed. Some of these are beautiful beaches along the coast, lagoons development, national parks and grooves and castles which are not developed. The rest are hotels with no 5 star yet and wonderful places of visit such as Nzulezu, a village on stilts among others which are not developed to the maximum.

Expected benefits from the oil and gas exploration to the region include employment for petro-chemical engineers and artisans such as welders, masons, etc; jobs in the hospitality industry, establishment of industries and enterprises such as oil refineries and services outlets to serve as supply points of spare parts to the oil industry. The rest are estate housing to meet the high demand from the business community, increase demand for goods and services and improved infrastructure and roads conditions and networks.

Challenges envisaged are industrial actions and demonstrations due to restrictions and other forms of disgruntlement, environmental problems arising from water and air pollution, increased human or child trafficking and abuse, congestion in the streets leading to vehicular and human traffic and food insecurity as a result of high demand. Others are security issues (e.g. cross boarder issues such as money laundering, illegal entry and other forms of cross boarder crimes, armed robbery, social vices likely to escalate) and uncontrolled sale of lands in areas closer to the oil fields to foreigners.