Ghana: Oil City Stories
As Ghana ramps up off-shore oil production, the government promises to attend to environmental concerns. But plans to cope with a catastrophic spill are noticeably missing.
Environmental concerns are raised as more oil companies begin drilling off the coast of Ghana. Does the country have the resources to cope with a major spill?
Edlove Quarshie was a passionate advocate for fishermen’s rights in Ghana.
Ghana's oil industry and the promise of jobs seems premature. Despite thousands signing up for training courses, the jobs don't exist yet, as the 'downstream' part of the industry isn't developed.
Ghanaians assumed new employment opportunities would arise after oil was discovered off shore several years ago, but thousands are still waiting for jobs to materialize.
A local company recently...
Fisherman in Ghana are angry: they feel the fledgling oil industry is severely disrupting their fishing activities. Moreover, government officials are reluctant to speak on the issue.
For the small village of Abuesiin Ghana, fishing plays an essential role in nearly every resident's life. But oil spills are threatening the village's very life source.
In the western region of Ghana, oil drilling is disrupting the livelihoods of local fisherman, who believe the government is privileging oil development over their needs.
In Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana the growing offshore oil industry threatens the established fishing industry.
Fishing and oil will each account for five percent of Ghana's GDP. The oil industry is expected to create several hundred jobs; fishing already employs millions.
As Sekondi-Takoradi looks like it's set to become Ghana’s new oil hub, the question is posed: will the oil industry revive this large poor city, and relieve its masses of unemployed youth?
Gateways
Grantee
Christiane Badgley is an independent producer and editor of social issue documentary films. She began her career in the San Francisco Bay Area where she was a frequent collaborator of acclaimed...