The attention of the EO Group, the legitimate catalyst for Ghana’s first ever commercial quantity oil discovery, has been drawn to a litany of lies published by National Enquirer, and its discredited and convicted publisher, that one of its principals, Mr. George Owusu, has jumped bail and is “on the run.” The EO Group wishes to categorically state that Mr. Owusu has not jumped bail, as was erroneously published. Rather, he has been fully co-operative with Ghanaian authorities, and has conducted no less than thirteen interviews with them. He has continuously maintained contact with Ghana authorities, either directly or through his counsel. The lawyers involved know where he is or how to reach him at all appropriate times.

The fact is that increased activities by all partners, including EO Group, leading up to first oil, have necessitated a series of meetings mostly overseas that George Owusu has to attend. These meetings are at times separated by a couple of days and on different continents. This makes it financially imprudent to always return home to Ghana after meetings, especially only for a day or two. In fact, at the time of issuing this statement, Mr. Owusu is at one such meeting in London. Mr. Owusu formally informed Ghanaian authorities about these developments and the need to attend these meetings before he left the country.

The investigating committee is aware that it is Mr. Owusu’s intention to return to Ghana to confer further with the Ghanaian authorities. The EO Group’s activities leading to Ghana’s first commercial quantity oil discover were all transparent and legal. The United States Department of Justice has so discovered and consequently exonerated the EO Group, and there is no basis for the Ghanaian authorities to reach any other conclusion. Thus, given the EO Group’s interest to see a speedy resolution to this matter, it would make no sense for one of its partners to delay unnecessarily this inevitable and overdue outcome.

In the meantime, it serves the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians for all to desist from peddling falsehoods. The EO Group hereby reserves its rights to pursue any legal recourse available to it under Ghana’s laws against