Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Members of Parliament unanimously voted to pass the West African Gas Pipeline Bill on Wednesday. The bill seeks to incorporate into domestic laws of Ghana, the provision of the treaty on the Gas Pipeline that required reinforcement by law in Ghana.

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy, had said the pipeline would help reduce the cost of production of electricity produced with thermal power in the country.

He said Ghana would be at liberty to harness its natural gas in future and even use the pipe to export the excess. The West African Gas Pipeline Treaty was signed by the Heads of States of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo on January 31, 2003, in Dakar, Senegal and subsequently ratified by Parliament of Ghana on June 2004.

The Gas Pipeline would transmit natural gas through the territorial waters of member states.