The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng has suggested that since the oil wells could dry up after some years, a substantial amount of the oil revenue should be used to develop solar energy in the country.
     
He explained that since solar energy could be tapped unending, a well developed solar energy base could replace the oil and gas energy in future and the country would either increase its energy revenue or replace the energy from the oil and gas industry when it is exhausted.
     
Daasebre Oti Boateng gave the advice in his contribution at a public forum in Koforidua on the local content and local participation in the formulation of policy on oil and gas operations.
     
He called for efforts to ensure the participation of the local communities and their traditional authorities in various aspects of the oil and gas industry.
     
Daasebre Oti Boateng said that would make people not to feel discriminated against but make them to support the investments in the industry and protect them.
     
He said the oil and gas industry required heavy capital outlay and, therefore, appealed to the Government to get the local banks to form a consortium to raise huge capital to support local businessmen and women who wanted to invest in the oil and gas industry.
    
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo called on the Ministry of Energy to liaise with the Information Services Department to get the information that was presented at the forum to the grassroots for as many people as possible to be informed about the oil and gas industry in the country.
     
He called for guidance on the content of the oil and gas engineering course being pursued at the All Nations University College in Koforidua, the only private university in the country that had been granted accreditation by the National Accreditation Board to run such a programme.
     
Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said that would ensure that the products of the University would be employable in the oil and gas industry when they completed school.
     
Mr Kweku Boateng of the Ministry of Energy observed that the initial revenue from the mining of 120,000 barrels of oil a day was not enough to change the fortunes of the country overnight.
   
However, with time he said, it was possible for the citizens of the country to feel a significant change in their lifestyles and the facilities available and therefore called for effective management of the expectation of Ghanaians from the oil find.