History has shown that African nations in general have not displayed good management of resources. This is evident in nearly all African govt bar a few. With the recent find of Oil in Ghana, there has been the constant muttering of the avoidance of the "Curse". This actually relates to what the Oil resource has done to Nigeria. I find it difficult to think that a find such this "Oil" will be any different from other mineral resource in that country. Ghana has abundant Gold deposits, which should in essence made the country a very rich country. The 2 countries have mineral reources which in the past has brought the nations to the fore of importance on the continent. My opinion is that Ghana should not be afraid of Mineral find and just manage the resource. Nigeria on it's path has had woes in the past and have started dto use the income from the resource as a benefit. I do not think that it is a curse. Your thoughts.

I always wanted Ghana to find oil in largel enough quantities that we would not have import any oil, and some for export so we could spend on infrastructure. Alas, I dont trust our leaders so would be worried if oil became the driving sector of the economy thus crowding out other areas, like agriculture and manufacturing- which should be the basis of long-term stability and development.

Gold works in a very different way that oil, governments earn far more from each $ of oil that is prodcued than each $ of gold. Also, Because the gold firms are all foreign not much of the money stays in Ghana.

Would I be going to far in saying that I rather not Ghana become a major oil exporter? Personally if they become energy independent and no longer have to import oil thats great, but becoming a major exporter might take away some of the country's stablity. I think the institutions are stronger there than in most of Africa, but a sudden flow of money can do funny things to a man.

I could be completely off the mark on this one.

Oil is now a curse...

Because everbody wants your oil and the will do everything to have it. For exmaple the rebels in Sudan are supported by the west because they want oil of Sudan and the Sudan goverment is supported by China..

The rebels in Tjaad are supported by China and Tjaad goverment is supported by French. Because everybody wants the oil in Tjaad..

Their are a lot of this examples.

Oil is a curse more than a blessing. Although it can help jumpstart an economy, it also brings corruption and greed into the picture...and it can help make governments more autocratic. However, I have always thought that the idea that a country will hit it big because of oil was always a flawed rationale. All countries in this world have other things to offer.

Oil is now a curse...

Because everbody wants your oil and the will do everything to have it. For exmaple the rebels in Sudan are supported by the west because they want oil of Sudan and the Sudan goverment is supported by China..

The rebels in Tjaad are supported by China and Tjaad goverment is supported by French. Because everybody wants the oil in Tjaad..

Their are a lot of this examples.

OIL IS A CURSE WHEN NO FUNCTIONG INSTITUTIONS ARE IN PLACE!!!

Tchad has no institutions, it is not even a functiong territorial state not to speak of a national state...and I doubt it will ever become a state one day, it will just be the endless list of problems the country faces from the 1960´s onwards, if not some form of miracle happens ....but I don´t believe in miracles.


Stop blaming oil for anything, oil is what people make out of it! The very same Shell company that caused so much trouble in Nigeria back in the horror days of the 80´s and 90s, has won prices in Oman for good corporate leadership.

Can you belive this?