The Majority Leader, Cletus Avoka, has urged the public to protect the peace, stability and democracy that the country is enjoying. He said: "Ghana is recognised by many countries as a beacon because of its political stability and tolerance over the years, but that should not make us content." Mr. Avoka said this when he opened the regional office of Revenue Watch Institute, a think-tank, in Accra. The organisation is to help build the capacities of many and monitor the revenue that would be accrued from the oil discovery. He also commended Revenue Watch Institute for choosing Ghana to site its Africa Regional office. He said Ghana was endowed with natural resources including timber, mineral resources, among other things but expressed regret that some of the residents at the places where resources abound still lived in abject poverty. He said with the discovery of the oil; government would put mechanisms in Ii place to ensure that the revenue accruing was used judiciously. Mr. Avoka said, "It is always good for one to be optimistic in whatever he or she does, adding that the oil discovery would be a blessing and not a curse saying that God did not do his things accidentally and that He (God) knows why he positioned or deposited the oil in Ghana.” He said that Parliament is currently looking at two bills to help provide a legal framework and to manage the revenue. Ms. Suneeta Kaimal the deputy director of RWI giving a brief overview about the organization said RWI is an international NGO( headquartered in New York) that works with citizens, governments and parliament s to provide the expertise, funding and technical assistance that can help countries avoid the ‘resource curse’ . The RWI believes that with effective revenue management, citizen engagement and real government accountability, the resource wealth can drive development and national growth. The Revenue Watch Institute is the only organization exclusively focused on the unique challenges faced by resource-rich countries, taking a comprehensive approach to improving governance and development. It engages with industry on joint monitoring initiatives and work to bring diverse and often distrustful stakeholders together for constructive discussions and partnerships that enhance accountability and sound economic governance. Mr. Emmanuel Kuyole, the Africa Regional coordinator, reiterated the importance of the work of RWI in the Sub Saharan Africa and its work on striving for transparency in the extractive sector for the public good. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana