The Minority in Parliament has accused President Akufo-Addo of unlawfully instructing the state oil company, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), to borrow funds for its operations without obtaining the necessary approval from Parliament.

Prior to Parliament's recess, GNPC had requested approval from the Mines and Energy Committee to borrow over $600 million. However, the committee instructed the company to present the loan's terms and conditions to the House for review in accordance with Article 181 of the Constitution.

Nevertheless, the Minority contends that the President has directed GNPC to proceed with the borrowing process in violation of Ghana's legal framework.

“To our utmost shock, I have come across documents – the Minority side in particular has become aware that the presidency is using coercive force to compel the GNPC to proceed and execute this loan agreement without parliamentary approval,” said Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, John Jinapor.

He added “This is unconstitutional, this is unlawful and this is a blatant disregard to the directive and resolution of Parliament.”

Mr. Jinapor informed journalists that copies of the loan terms their side has obtained are heavily biased against Ghana, as the country stands to lose more than five years' worth of oil revenue from the TEN oil field.

According to him, “If we allow government to plunder our oil resources will affect future generations.”

“Indeed, all of the oil in the TEN field has been incumbent including royalties, surface rentals and our current participatory interest – all of it for the next five and half years. Every year, the minimum of 3.8 million barrels of our crude oil will be given to Litasco,” he said.