COULD CULTIVATING VERTIVER PROTECT COASTAL COMMUNITIES FROM DOWNSIDE FACTORS OF GHANA'S OIL & GAS INDUSTRY?

It may very well be that vertiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) could play an effective role, in the long-term, in returning beaches along Ghana's coastline to a pristine condition, after the inevitable occurs - and some coastal community somewhere along Ghana's coastline, has to cope with spillage of toxic material from the production of oil, which contaminates their beach. Perhaps Tullow Oil, which seems to be underpinned by an ethical corporate governance ethos (unlike so many of the oil companies operating in Africa!), could play a leadership role, and get all the industry players to contribute to funding vertiver research by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The purpose of such research, would be to see whether vertiver could be added to the mix of measures taken by oil companies to clean up beaches in coastal areas affected by such mishaps. If it can, they ought to consider funding the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), to employ people to plant them along the entire coastline of Ghana.

I gather that in his wisdom, the King of Thailand formed a specialised army corps, whose sole mission is the cultivation of vertiver. It deploys detachment of vertiver-specialist soldiers nationwide to plant them - so that Thai society can benefit from its many beneficial properties. There is absolutely no reason why Ghana too should not benefit from this wonder plant.

Replicating that here with the NYEP, would be a perfect green corporate social responsibility project for Ghana's oil and gas industry, would it not - and be an example to that in Nigeria, too? One hopes Ghana"s dynamic environment, science and technology minister, the Hon. Sherry Aryittey, and her very able deputy, the Hon. Omane-Boamah, will get the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to liaise with the CSIR, so that they can work together with the oil industry on this - since they both fall under the purview of her ministry.

Perhaps Tullow Oil's executives could also contact Mr. Dale Rachmeler, the head of the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), who wears a second hat doubling as the head of the Vertiver Network, to take this a step further.

I shall end this piece by quoting part of a conversation with him, when informing me about the role a 5-acre vertiver nursery at Bunso, with which he is associated, plays in its cultivation by Peace Corps volunteers, in the north of Ghana:

" ...the Vetiver Network International.....has about 5000 volunteers. You can see what we do at www.vetiver.org.
My annual budget is $2000 and we do promotion of sustainable resource
management via the use of a species of grass called Chrysopogon zizanioides,
Vetiver for short.

It is especially easy to use, costs virtually nothing, has a very long lifetime (80 years or more) and can completely stop soil erosion, improve soil fertility, mitigate against storm damage, reclaim polluted lands, and provide sustainable animal fodder along with a whole host of other uses.

It can grow on any soil type, on any slope in tropical environments. The only down side is that it does not do well in shade." End of quote.

Need I say more, dear reader? One certainly hopes that Tullow Oil will show yet another positive sign, that it is committed to being a good corporate citizen in our homeland Ghana (another example being its decision to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), so that ordinary Ghanaians - not just our mostly greedy and self-seeking ruling elites - can have a personal stake in their nation's burgeoning oil and gas industry!), by taking this up soonest, with Mr. Rachmeler. A word to the wise...

Tel (powered by Tigo - the one mobile phone network on Ghana that actually works): +233 (0) 27 745 3109.