NPP UK AND IRELAND STATEMENT

We had said it all along since December, 2009 that the NDC government especially Dr Oteng Agyei the Energy minister and his Deputy Emmanuel Buah were not telling the truth when it came to the actual percentage of oil revenues to be derived from oil proceeds. Dr Oteng Agyei told Ghanaians that projected oil revenues to be derived from the oil fields was 38%. We disputed this because over 15% interest to be generated from the Jubilee oil fields including royalties, VAT and NHIL had not been included or had been deliberately left out. We know for a fact that Ghana holds 53.75% of the oil revenue.

It’s a pity that the NDC members especially those living in UK have sought to dispute this known fact we claim, and are gallivanting from one local radio station to another making noises without researching to know the facts of the oil industry in Ghana. Perhaps the NDC members should stop being arrogant and listen to what we (NPP) say, after all we (NPP) found the oil in Ghana therefore we have all the facts. They should rather put pressure on their corrupt colleagues in government to do the right thing by telling Ghanaians the truth.

It is important to state that the NPP under President Kufuor, the man who has been vilified so much but gradually being vindicated managed to restore hope in Ghana’s oil industry after the country was considered as a graveyard by the oil investors worldwide in the 90s, cannot keep quiet while an industry which has the potential to create more jobs and improve the quality of life of our people, to be mismanaged by a few greedy individuals. We further advice as matter of urgency and for National Interest to be protected; President Mills dissolve the current boards for Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and Tema Oil refinery and appoint individuals who will put national interest before self, because what we are seeing and hearing of the nefarious activities of some members of these boards is extremely frightening. We really don’t need financial wizards and fetish priests with the beads around their waists to advise us on oil. We are not surprised Mr Alfred Agbesi resigned. He knows what we are talking about.

For record purposes we publish what the officials of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation said: “The Managing Director of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye, has said the corporation’s decision to acquire the Kosmos Energy stake in the Jubilee Field, is necessary and critical to ensuring that Ghanaians derived the maximum benefits from the country’s oil resources. According to the GNPC boss, the state oil corporation, has already secured the necessary funding to acquire the stakes, and were in discussions with Kosmos Energy, who voluntarily decided to sell their stakes.

GNPC’s Chief Economic Evaluation and Monitoring Officer, Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah … emphasized the need for GNPC to acquire the Kosmos Energy stake in Ghana’s oil fields and explained that apart from the 10% initial carried interest, GNPC has exercised its right of acquiring additional interests in the Jubilee field. He explained that apart from these, royalties and income tax earnings from the oil sale would leave the nation with over 50% of the profits from the oil.”

We thank almighty God that we stood for what we believed was right, in the face of threats, insults and accusations that we were playing politics especially from the hapless and ineffective NDC propaganda machinery in Accra and in the UK. Dr Oteng Agyei, his deputy and the entire NDC government as a whole must be ashamed of themselves for lying to Ghanaians. For us, it is even sadder that the press in Ghana was silent on investigating and probing such a critical issue.

Previous governments worked hard to bring in investors to support us to develop this important commodity and we look forward to see an end product soon. We appeal especially to the “efiewura” who is now sitting on the Energy commission calling himself an energy expert to sit up and stop pretending he cares for Ghanaians while he negotiates for oil contracts to lift crude oil through the back door.He knows about the Ghana’s profit percentage in oil found which is over 50% but had said nothing about it.

Until the hypocrisy stops for accountability and transparency to take over, we will fail to make any meaningful headway in our quest to build and prosperous and peaceful country with the resources God has blessed us.

GOD SAVE GHANA FROM THE CROOKS AND CONMEN

Nana Yaw Sarpong Peter Antwi, NPP UK and Ireland Media and Publicity Committee