Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has chastised the Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Freddie Blay, for deliberately refusing to adhere to his directive with regards to working with South African National Company (PetroSA).

In a letter dated October 28, 2022, to the GNPC Board Chair, the Energy Minister ordered that “the Corporation should cease any further negotiations with PetroSA on matters of PetroSA’s intended pre-emption of the JOHL stakes."

“The stakes were acquired by the Government of Ghana with State funds. The Government of Ghana has informed the South African Government through their Minister responsible for Natural Resources and Energy in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the African Energy Week, 2022 in Cape Town that Ghana would not approve any pre-emption of the JOHL stakes” it continued.

But according to Dr Opoku Prempeh, Mr Freddie Blay ignored the wider interest of the government and Ghanaians and offered part of the Government acquired JOHL interest (7%) in the DWT to PETROSA.

This, he said was not well thought through as the implication could be losses to the state.

The President's attention has also been drawn to the gross disrespect by the GNPC Board Chair.

In a letter to President Akufo-Addo, the Energy Minister wrote:

"The Chairman of the GNPC Board, in the letter under reference, is inviting PetroSA to preempt the 7% interest that was recently acquired by the Government of Ghana from Anadarko West Cape Three Points Company ("Anadarko") and proposing an equal split of the Deep Water Tano ("DWT") portion which would decrease the government's interest.

"We wish to bring this action of the Chairman, which is in direct contravention of the Government of Ghana's express directives on the subject matter, to the urgent attention of His Excellency the President," parts of the letter dated May 16, 2023, which was addressed to the secretary of the president read.

As it stands now, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has directed Mr Freddie Blay to withdraw the offer presented to PetroSA.

"I direct that you cease and desist from any further flouting of the directives forthwith and withdraw the offer made to PetroSA in your letter of 23 April 2023 immediately," the minister wrote in its letter to the GNPC Board Chair.

Read the letter NAPO wrote to Freddie Blay and President Akufo-Addo below: