Oil- exploring countries, including Ghana, are being urged to develop policies to tackle trans-boundary pollution damage from offshore oil exploration and production.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, requires countries to take steps to protect the marine environment and provide compensation for damage.
Adherence to the provision, however, over the years has not been the best.
Chairman of the International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee, Kofi Mbeah, says though Ghana has made some progress there is more work to be done to safeguard the oil industry.
He has been re-elected for the second time at the organization’s recent 99th session.
Dr. Mbeah who is Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers Council says the IMO is drawing guidelines to bring some benefits to member states including Ghana.
There are, however, concerns about challenges associated to oil exploration.
“There are always associated problems and challenges that always comes with the drilling of oil and one of the basic and commonest things has to do with pollution”.
The IMO through its Legal Committee has been working ascidiously in developing convention on transboundary pollution, an issue which received maximum attention at the 98th session of the Legal Committee of the IMO.
Dr. Mbeah warns, effects of any possible pollution associated with oil exploration is enormous, urging the government to take into consideration measures that will ensure safe environment for all.
“Sometimes when there is oil pollution in your waters, it does not just affect the beaches, it affects the way of life of the people. So in terms of policies, Ghana is very much aware, and Ghana has taken steps, its only that we need to develop these further”, he stated.
He says the IMO will provide technical cooperation and assistance to developing countries who lack capacity to develop the needed policy framework.
“And then when we are having our contracts with various Oil Majors, the Exon Mobil, Tullow Oil etc, its important we take cognizance of this contract other than that, they mean nothing”, he emphasized.