GNPC, Petro SA deal: “I have not seen any scandal there” – NPP’s Awal Mohammed

Member of the New Patriotic Party’s Communication team, Awal Mohammed has said he has not seen any scandal concerning the dealings the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)’s  Board Chair had with Petro SA to sell of 50% of Ghana’s interest in Jubilee Oil Holdings Limited.

According to him, no deal have been reached and Ghana has not lost anything either hence cannot be said to be scandal as being circulated.

Awal Mohammed made the comment on Big Issues on TV3 NewDay, monitored by GhanaPlus.com on Wednesday, May 24.

“I have seen and heard even when you send the flyer you said scandal at GNPC, I have not seen any scandal there. GNPC Board Chair intend to do something. it is not a conclusive deal, a deal have not been reached then the minister came out to tell them you have a meeting with them, stop the meeting. We acquire this with state funds, with our oil money, don’t give 50% to anyone”.

“….So yes, the minister has written the letter. The minister wrote the letter and told them to cease the transaction. They shouldn’t continue with the transaction. He wrote to the President and told the President to do this. Am sure and I know that something is being done about this but there is no scandal. Ghana has not lost anything, an agreement has not been reached that is important and that is what we have to put on records,”  Awal Mohammed added.

GNPC Board chair Freddie Blay’s attempt to sell Ghana’s oil interest to South Africa’s Petro SA

The Board Chairman of GNPC, Mr Freddie Blay is reported to have made an attempt to hand over half of Ghana’s  oil interest to a South African Company, Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation (Petro SA) in violation of directive from the Minister of Energy.

The Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh in a letter dated May 16, 2023 to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo accused Mr Blay of pushing for Petro SA to preempt Ghana’s stake, a development he said undermines Government policy and could be scandalous.

“In one of the meetings in South Africa, it came to light that it is actually the Chairman of the GNPC who has been pushing for Petro SA to preempt the Ghana stake which is a posture that clearly undermines Government policy,”

”I wish to reiterate the directive in my letter of 28th October 2022 with reference SCR/KA.118/305/02 that; “the Corporation should cease any further negotiation with PetroSA on matters of PetroSA’s intended pre-emption of the JOHL stakes,” the minister’s letter pointed out an earlier notice to the board chairman.“ part of the Minister’s letter reads.

Source: GhanaPlus.com