…As it Steps Up ‘Support GNPC’ Campaign

…Energy Minister Assures of Nat’l Interest As Deciding Factor

The Committee for Joint Action (CJA) a civil society pressure group has lined up various activities aimed at educating the public and mobilizing support for the national oil company, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), over its decision to acquire the interest of Kosmos Energy in Ghana’s oilfields in order to increase the country’s stake in Ghana’s oil production. A statement issued by the CJA yesterday and signed by the group’s Convener, Mr. Kwesi Adu, outlined some of the activities as including a forum in Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana, a forum at the University of Ghana, Legon among others.

Prof. Francis Nkrumah, eldest son of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, last Thursday joined hundreds of Ghanaians, who have appended their signatures to a campaign in support of GNPC acquiring the Kosmos interest in Ghana’s oil fields.

The Signature Campaign, which was launched by the CJA last week Wednesday, was followed by a public forum on Thursday, August 5, 2010.

The forum was addressed by the General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, a representative ISODEC, a civil society group, Mr. Kofi Ayivor and Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr., a leading member of the CJA and attended by people from all walks of life.

Mr. Kofi Ayivor, in his submissions said there was nothing wrong with GNPC acquiring Kosmos’ stake in Ghana and expressed ISODEC’s readiness to join any coalition to promote that course.

The CPP General Secretary, on his part made references to Malaysia, Brazil, China, Senegal and many other places where the state had the lion’s share in those countries’ oil fields and emphasized the need for GNPC to do same on behalf of the people of Ghana, particularly as the process for the deal involving Kosmos Energy and ExxonMobil which is before Government was flawed ab initio.

The CJA which had a fortnight ago addressed a press conference calling on Government to ensure the national interest prevailed in dealing with the impasse with Kosmos Energy, had members at the forum suggesting different methods of advancing the campaign, where suggestions included demonstrations and public fora.

The forum ground had various inscriptions, calling on Ghanaians to support GNPC acquire the Kosmos stake in the national interest, some of which read: Stand up for Ghana; Lobby for Ghana, Not Against; Obama Stands Firm For U.S. Against BP; Who Stands Firm for Ghana; President Mills, Please Stand Firm for Ghana’s Interest;Zero Tolerance for Traitors etc.

GNPC, at the end of June, declined consent to a sale and purchase agreement between Kosmos Energy and its US compatriot ExxonMobil, citing breaches of the petroleum agreement by Kosmos as well as the process leading to the deal with ExxonMobil being flawed.

Kosmos Energy had insisted it had not breached any laws of Ghana but in an interview with The Business Analyst said he would want to sit with GNPC to resolve any outstanding disputes.

GNPC has indicated also that it was interested in acquiring the Kosmos interest at a fair market price.

Under the Petroleum Exploration and Production Law, PNDC Law 84 the Minister for Energy is also required to give a prior written consent to any transaction which is meant to transfer a contractor’s (in this case Kosmos Energy’s) stakes to another party.

The President, however, set up a committee to examine the issues involved in the proposed deal as well as issues bordering on GNPC’s dispute with Kosmos Energy. The committee has since submitted its report to Government and a statement by the Minister for Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei has assured the public that Government would take a decision that would be in the national interest.