Ghana: Criminal case against Woyome adjourned

Martin Amidu is disputing the assertion, made by President John Atta Mills in a Radio Gold interview on 23 December 2011, that the two international contracts between Ghana and Waterville Holdings (BVI) Limited, which are dated 26 April 2006, created liabilities for the government which obliged it to pay the Woyome judgement debt. According to Amidu's interpretation of Article 181 of the 1992 Constitution, Ghana cannot incur liability for any foreign or international loan or expenses incidental to such foreign or international loan transactions without parliamentary approval of the transaction.

On this basis, he asked the court to make a declaration that the payments made by the Attorney General to Waterville are inconsistent with and in contravention of the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution, as is the fact that the claims were never laid before or approved by parliament. Amidu also criticised the High Court and former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu for allowing Alfred Woyome to commence a legal action on 19 April 2010 claiming damages for breach of contract in an international business transaction. He is seeking a declaration that “those proceedings and others consequent thereupon of the said High Court are null, void, and without effect whatsoever”.

The long-running Woyome case re-entered the spotlight earlier this month when Woyome - who had been charged with three counts of conspiracy, defrauding by false pretence and corrupting a public officer - was discharged and later re-arrested with the “more appropriate charges” of defrauding by false pretence and causing financial loss to the state. Fraud charges were dismissed against the other defendants in the case.

Woyome won a multimillion cedi pay-out after he filed a writ at the High Court claiming that a 2006 contract to renovate five sports stadiums in Ghana for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament had been illegally cancelled by the previous government of then president John Agyekum Kufuor. The award came to light late last year after parliament examined a 2010 auditor-general report. Martin Amidu subsequently lost his job in January 2012 along with another government minister.

The criminal case against Woyome has been adjourned to 12 July by an Accra High Court with the state prosecution pleading for more time to bring another witness.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Ghana: Biometric voter registration exercise continues

Electoral Commission (EC) registration teams are to visit each of Ghana's 43 prisons from 29 May to allow prisoners to register to vote although, according to Electoral Commissioner Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, they will only be able to vote in the presidential poll in December and not in parliamentary elections. The president announced government's intention to allow prisoners to vote last year, after years of national debates, amid pressure from human rights campaigners and a Supreme Court ruling which was backed by President John Atta Mills.

The EC had initially planned to register prisoners during the 40-day biometric registration exercise but changed its mind because of the lack of credible databases confirming prisoners' identities. This prompted an outcry from human rights groups who said that the electoral body was reneging on its constitutional obligation to allow prisoners the right to elect their country's leader. For example the well-known human rights lawyer, Kojo Graham, threatened to take the EC to the Supreme Court if prisoners were not included in the biometric registration exercise. A Ghana Prison Service (GPS) taskforce was set up to tour the country's prisons, helping inmates to provide authentic identification details.

The EC has also announced that a biometric voter registration “mop-up” exercise is scheduled to take place on 9-10 June in selected centres across Ghana. This will allow those who were unable to register the first time around due to technical or other difficulties the chance to do so.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Ghana: Rift between Jerry Rawlings and President Mills deepens

The on-going rift between former president Jerry Rawlings and President John Atta Mills intensified when Rawlings told the 30th anniversary ceremony of the 31st December Women's movement that several key government members are 'traitors.' He also criticised what he described as the unprecedented “monetisation” of politics, which had “eroded the principle of integrity on which the party has always won its elections”.

The Presidency's director of operations, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, responded by telling a local radio station that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was tired of Rawlings' constant criticisms of the ruling party. Many NDC members, he said, have used their time, resources and reputations to support the party and are not “greedy bastards” or “traitors” as Rawlings alleges.

He also challenged the former president and his wife, Nana Konadu Rawlings, to leave the NDC before the 2012 elections and see if it made a difference to the election result.

As reported in previous editions of Ghana Politics & Security, the tensions between the Rawlings, his wife, and the current NDC leadership have been escalating for some time. The Rawlings' criticisms of the NDP are regularly printed in the pro-NPP local press and it has recently been suggested that Rawlings and his wife would prefer electoral defeat for the NDC.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Ghana: Government rescinds decision to boycott local Multimedia Group on grounds of its alleged anti-NDC “bias”

In a worrying development - albeit one since reversed by the government following criticism from all sides including from within, the party - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) announced a boycott of Accra-based radio and TV operator Multimedia Group (MGL) Limited which is the owner and operator of, amongst other outlets, both Asempa FM and Joy FM. It initially banned MGL representatives from attending government functions and events including those held by the multitude of government ministries and departments. The reasons that were provided mainly centred on Asempa FM decision to end a political discussion programme in late February. This followed an on-site protest by NPP supporters who were claiming radio presenter bias; the subsequent resumption of the programme by a new Asempa presenter; and the apparent failure of Joy FM to report the incident on the news.

The response from the political opposition and from media organizations was immediate, with the Media Foundation for West Africa calling on President John Atta Mills to reverse the decision. The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) even threatened to take legal action should the boycott not be reversed. As mentioned above, Nana Akufo-Addo voiced his astonishment, and Jerry John Rawlings - while reacting adversely to the suspension of his aide and spokesman Kofi Adams – authorised the latter to appear on a Joy FM programme following the announcement of the NDC boycott of its Multimedia Group parent company.

The subsequent rescinding of the boycott is important in particular as it re-affirms Ghana's commitment to press freedom. Government representatives still maintain, however, that the Multimedia Group has shown bias against the NDC for the past three years.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Former president Rawlings criticises Mills

Former president Jerry John Rawlings has spoken out against President John Atta Mills and his government. The former Ghanaian president issued a statement saying Mills' government was unable to “see the growing darkness around them” and was sinking into a bottomless pit.

In the statement to the media on Monday 26 March, Rawlings said the suspension of his aide, Kofi Adams, as Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over an alleged leaked tape, was “to serve a parochial and unpatriotic interest” of some party officials.

Adams is on suspension for 90 days pending the outcome of a Disciplinary Committee's investigation for allegedly saying in a secret recording that he will be part of a plot to ensure Mills' defeat in the December elections, after Nana Konadu lost the bid to become the party's presidential candidate at the Sunyani Congress.

Rawlings, who has spoken out against Mills before, concluded in his statement that “Ghana needs a real and true awakening." He added: "The government is fast speeding the country into an abyss and as Easter draws near let us seek God's guidance in honest, unpretentious prayer of supplication.”

Sources: Ghana Web, My Joy Online, Citifmonline

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana: Controversy over non-promotions of key police officers

Against the backdrop of the on-going cocaine for baking powder saga, which has previously be discussed in Ghana Politics & Security, and the controversial alleged role of police officials in the disappearance of a cocaine exhibit, Ghana's police force is now wracked by another controversy – albeit one that is internal to its operations. A recent round of police promotions of six officers from the rank of deputy commissioner of police to commissioner of police, which was announced by President John Atta Mills earlier this month, has been criticised for not including five high achieving officers.

According to local press, these five include the team leader of a successful investigation into a local serial killer who was responsible for over 30 deaths; the supervisor of an operation that seized almost 600kg of cocaine worth approximately US$38 million; a former director of the Ghanaian criminal investigations department with a mandate covering drug crime, terrorism and trafficking; and officers with a track record of success in international missions under United Nations task force and missions.

In particular some of these officers - who, under existing police policy, are usually promoted every four years - have not been promoted for around a decade. Specific reasons for their exclusion have not yet been released so one can only speculate whether or not there is an unsavoury reason but, given the current pressure on some sectors of the police, further internal police tension is unnecessary.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

Ghana: Smaller political parties confront allegations

Officials of the opposition Convention Peoples Party (CPP) claim that they have discovered a “grand plot” to “destabilise” and bring down the party's new leader, Yaaba Samia Nkrumah. This is allegedly being done by attempting to organise and obtain petitions to bring forward the party congress and hold an extraordinary session to select new national delegates. Meanwhile a senior party member, who was responsible for grassroots activities overseas, has defected to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), launching into a speech in London in support of his new party while also savagely criticising the New Patriotic Party (NPP) opposition.

The CPP is not the only small party suffering from internal conflict. According to news reports, leading People's National Convention (PNC) members have filed a writ at Accra's high court against the PNC's current leadership. They claim that voters at the party's 2007 national congress – at which Dr Edward Mahama was elected - included “street thugs” paid by the latter's associates to ensure his victory in the party's elections. The writ also claims that Ghana's Electoral Commission failed to provide adequate supervision at constituency elections.

On the national level, last week's comments by President John Atta Mills that the 2012 elections would be critical, and even a “test case” for African democracy, were followed by an announcement by USAID's director that it would partner local Ghanaian civil society organisations to assist the “participation” and “inclusivity” of the elections.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Nana Konadu Rawlings fails in NDC bid for presidency

Nana Konadu Rawlings, wife of Ghana's former president Jerry John Rawlings, has failed in her bid to secure a vote as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party's presidential candidate in the 2012 election.

During a three-day NDC convention in Accra, Rawlings won a mere 3.1 per cent of the vote, with the remainder 96.9 per cent going to President John Atta Mills.

In his victory speech, Mills promised to rebuild bridges within the NDC caused by pressures pertaining to the contest. Speaking to the crowd, Mills said he wanted to ensure unity and show that all members of the NDC “belong to one party".

The outright victory followed Mills' success in all 10 regions with a total of 2771 votes; leaving the former First Lady firmly behind in the race with a mere 90 votes.

Mills gave assurance in his victory speech that “certain issues and concerns raised by the rank and file of membership of the party during his campaign will be addressed.” He also told party members and delegates: “Let us leave here a united party. There should be no bickering, no name calling, no divisive tendencies.”

The general consensus among NDC members was that it wasn't the right time for the party to change “the Yutong driver,” and that Mills is the best candidate to represent the NDC in next year's election.

Sources: BBC News, MyJoy Online, Ghana Web

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana: Battle for NDC presidential nomination is a tree horse race

Having turned the battle for the presidential nomination of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) into a three horse race, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah is working hard to secure maximum political advantage. The former education minister never hid his political ambitions, and styles himself as the leader of the next generation of NDC politicians. Party insiders are puzzling over his tactics.

As a close confidante of both Jerry and Nana Rawlings, he has attracted accusations of taking a stalking horse role on behalf of his allies. On this calculation, Ekow-Garbrah, a Fante technocrat from Central Region was reckoned to be able to take votes from President John Atta Mills who, among other things, is seen as a Fante technocrat drawing substantial support from his Central Region base.

There has been no love lost between Mills and Spio-Garbrah since the 2008 NDC presidential nomination when Mills trounced Spio-Garbrah and has locked him out of the government ever since.

Three things could happen after the July NDC contest and all of them would be good for Spio-Garbrah: firstly, and most likely he could poll enough votes to reinforce his position within the party making it impossible for Mills to continue to lock him out; he could either emerge as king (winning the nomination outright) after several rounds of voting; or he could emerge as kingmaker, using his votes to secure victory for Nana Rawlings and perhaps getting a role as running mate.

On the debit side, if he loses, Mills will grant him no favours and he will continue be locked out. The big test for Spio-Garbrah is whether he has an independent base in the party or whether his support will depend on some sort of deal with Nana Rawlings.

A popular theory in Accra is that Nana Rawlings will drop out of the race about a week before the special congress, but endorse Spio-Garbrah as the face of the new generation. She would do so to avoid public humiliation by Mills but also in the hope that her 31 December women's movement will deliver all the female delegate votes to Spio-Garbrah, and that he might get a respectable showing and fatally wound Mills.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Ghana: Nana Rawlings quits as NDC's first vice chairman to challenge Mills

Wife of former president Jerry Rawlings, Nana Rawlings, has said she will challenge President John Atta Mills in her party's upcoming primaries.

A letter to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) general secretary dated 14th April said that Rawlings was resigning from her position as NDC's first vice chairman so she could seek her party's nomination for the presidency in the July primaries. This is the first time a sitting president has been challenged by a member of the ruling party for the party's nomination.

The Presidency has downplayed the news. Director of Communications Koku Anyidoho told reporters that Mills would remain focused on delivering his electoral promises and would not be swayed by “distractions within the NDC.”

The Greater Accra regional branch of the NDC has pledged its support for the President in any leadership contest and has issued a statement saying that “any attempt to change him as the candidate on the ticket of the NDC for the 2012 elections will be an unwise decision.”

The Ashanti region, Western region and Upper West region constituency executives have also expressed their support for President Mills as NDC presidential candidate for the 2012 elections.

Former president Jerry Rawlings seized power in Ghana in successive coups, first in 1979 and then again in 1981. He then served as the country's elected president between 1993 and 2001.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Ghana and Turkey pen five deals to boost trade ties

President John Atta Mills met with Turkey's President Abdullah Gul during Gul's official two day visit to Accra. Gul, who was accompanied by a delegation of 150 business representatives, commended Ghana for its efforts to open new doors for Africa.

He also praised the burgeoning relations between Accra and Ankara, and the collaboration between the two countries on several projects, including the joint organisation of the Turkey-Africa summit.

The two leaders discussed five agreements to enhance diplomatic and bilateral relations. The agreements, signed by sector ministers of both countries, cover Bilateral Air Services, Health and Medical Sciences, Military Training and Science, Mutual Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic Passports and an MoU for the Establishment of Consultations on Political Mechanism.

Ghana and Turkey have nurtured diplomatic relations since 1957, and have in recent years vowed to strengthen their bilateral and trade ties. Gul's two day visit, co-organised by the Turkish Exporters' Union (TIM) and Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSKON), will revolve around business trade with the West African Nation.

On his part, Mills seconded Gul's commendation of relations and noted that Ghana is looking forward to conducting business with one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, attributing the Turkey's success to Gul. Mills added that Ghana will learn a lot from Turkey in areas of agriculture, training and industry.

The trade between Ghana and Turkey rose from $175 million in 2009 to $230 million in 2010. Both leaders expressed hope that the figure should grow even further this year.

Sources: GNA, My Joy Online, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana’s rescue efforts still lagging

President John Atta Mills' government is accelerating its efforts to evacuate Ghanaian nationals from Libya after a very sluggish start at the beginning of the political crisis. However the effort by Ghanaian officials still efforts lag way behind those of countries in the European Union, India and Ghana’ regional neighbour Nigeria which has chartered planes to rescue its nationals.

On the other fronts – such as the condemnation of the Qadhafi regime for its murderous attacks on its own people and the application of financial sanctions against Tripoli – Ghana's diplomacy under the uncertain guidance of Foreign Minister Muhammad Mumuni could be said to be missing in action.

Part of the problem may be Mumuni's incompetence and political vacillation on most issues, another problem be the previously close relations that some senior members of the
ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) had nurtured with the Qadhafi regime.

Ghana and Kenya have been widely listed as countries where the Qadhafi family and sundry Libyan state investment vehicles such as the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) and its many subsidiaries have put money in companies and institutions. None of these investments are yet subject to sanctions and therefore, for the Qadhafi regime, its interests in Ghana and other African countries could become increasingly important if the sanctions start to have a debilitating effect on its ability to procure weapons and fuel.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Parliament to pass petroleum revenue bill

Parliament is preparing to pass the petroleum revenue management bill after wrangling over key issues delayed its passage late last year. Parliamentary spokesman Jones Kugblenu said on 9th February that the House is “working towards passing the bill on Friday (11th February),” adding that work could be extended into the following week. “They have gone over all the controversial issues now”, he said.

Majority Leader Cletus Avoka said that Parliament would pass the bill before 17th February, when President John Atta Mills is scheduled to address the House.

However, Ghana's Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Henry Ford Kamel told a 9th February mining meeting in South Africa that he hoped the bill would be passed “by July”.

The government had hoped to pass the bill before first oil production started on 15th December.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Ghana: Wobble and ambiguities as Mills faces Côte d'Ivoire test

In the most serious regional crisis since President John Atta Mills took office in January 2009, he has sent conflicting signals: both to the presidential rivals in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire and to Ghana's regional allies in ECOWAS. This week, Ghana's delegation to the AU summit in Addis Ababa will have to work hard both to clarify and justify Accra's stance.

Ghana starts from the position that the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire is both a threat to and a distraction from its own oil and gas-fuelled development plans. The Ivorian crisis, with the reality of political and economic refugees crossing the border to Ghana and the threat of a regional war to oust Gbagbo, makes running Ghana's economy and attracting investment much harder.

As one official in Accra told Ghana P&S: “We are dealing with international investors who hardly differentiate between Congo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe – as far as they're concerned Abidjan is a suburb of Accra. We have to show diplomatic maturity and protect our economic self-interest here...”

The official conceded that there were genuine confusions over Ghana's stance on Côte d'Ivoire which would be cleared up at the Addis Ababa meeting. But, he added there were important questions to be raised about how the crisis has been handled so far. These reflect wider concerns about ECOWAS and the AU overreaching themselves, as well as the residual power of French influence in African diplomatic affairs.

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates

President John Atta Mills reshuffles cabinet

Ghana's President John Atta Mills has reshuffled his cabinet, keeping key positions such as foreign affairs, finance and defence in place. The President's office, who issued a statement regarding the changes, did not give a reason for the reshuffle. According to the statement, more ministerial changes are expected to be “announced in due course,” but no further details were given.

Martin Amidu, former Interior Minister, replaces Betty Mould-Iddrisu, as the Attorney General and Justice Minister. Mould-Iddrisu will take up a new post as the Education Minister. Sports Minister Akua Sena Dansua is redeployed to the Tourism Ministry, Health Minister Benjamin Kumbour moves to the Interior Ministry, vacated by Amidu, and former Local Government Minister Joseph Yieleh Chireh will be the new Health Minister. The list did not indicate the fate of former Minister of Tourism Zita Okaikoi and his education counterpart Alex Tettey-Enyo.

See list below for the newly appointed cabinet:

1. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice – Martin A. B. K. Amidu

2. Minister for Education – Betty Mould – Iddrisu

3. Minister for Local Government and Rural Development – Ofosu Ampofo

4. Minister for Youth and Sports Designate – Hon. Kofi Humado

5. Minister for Interior – Benjamin Kunbuor

6. Minister for Tourism – Akua Dansua

7. Minister for Health – Hon. Joseph Yieleh Chireh

8. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources – Mike Hammah

9. Minister for Transport – Hon. Collins Dauda

10. Eastern Regional Minister Designate – Kwesi Akyem Apea-Kubi

Sources: AFP, Business Week, Reuters, Vibe Ghana

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana delivers first oil amid hopes and fears

Ghana has delivered its first barrels of oil from the Jubilee wells, days after President John Atta Mills opened the valves, in a televised inauguration ceremony, at the 330 metre long platform off the country's Atlantic coast. It is estimated that the Jubilee field holds as much as 1.8 billion barrels of crude oil, which could earn Ghana around 50 per cent of its national revenue within the next 20 years.

Ghana has taken steps to ensure that oil revenue is distributed fairly and to the benefit of Ghanaian people. In a speech before the inauguration ceremony, Mills said that Ghana's oil wealth will be a “blessing” rather than a source of strife.

The country's lawmakers have stipulated that a clause, in the new Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, mandates the government to use the country's oil as collateral in securing funds to develop Ghana's infrastructure and economy.


Former Ghanaian president John Agyekum Kufuor has called on Ghana to manage its oil wealth judiciously and for the benefit of the people; further adding that the government should safeguard the country's energy sector with regulation that is transparent and free from corruption.

In an attempt to counter Ghana's fears that oil wealth may bring violence and conflict, Mills said that he intends to see that oil resources are used judiciously to reconstruct the country's roads and build hospitals. Speaking along the same lines, Select Committee's Energy Chairman, Moses Asaga, said that first Ghanaian oil has united the country's political parties as they prepare to develop the nation. He added that the government has also come up with a heritage fund initiative to stabilise Ghana's economy.

President of Nzema Maanle Council, Awulae Annor Adjaye, has expressed concern about the dispensation of Ghana's oil wealth, saying that he thought that meeting the 10 per cent revenue demand made by the Chiefs of Ghana's Western region, may be problematic. The demand has been officialy confirmed by Ghana's Vice President John Mahama.

Sources: Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Modern Ghana, Peace FM Online

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

Ghana: President Mills fears drug trafficking among staff

A US cable released by WikiLeaks has revealed that Ghana's President John Atta Mills is concerned that elements of his administration are compromised by drug trafficking. In a bid to eliminate his concerns, Mills requested airport drug screening checks for his personal entourage.

The cable in question stated that Mills “made a point of submitting his luggage to a search and required his entire entourage to do the same.” West Africa has become a key transit stop for smuggling cocaine from Latin America into Europe. When Mills took up office in January 2009, he pledged to tackle the problem which has become increasingly paramount.

According to a cable from June 2009, Mills told the US ambassador to Ghana, Donald Teitelbaum, that he knew that "elements of his government are already compromised and that officials at the airport tipped off drug traffickers about operations there".

Several months later a UK customs official, Roland O'Hagan, told US diplomats that Ghana's president wanted his own entourage screened before leaving the country. O'Hagan added that the President wanted his staff to be “checked in the privacy of his suite to avoid any surprises if they are caught carrying drugs.”

The UN drugs agency estimated that around 60 tonnes of cocaine is smuggled through West Africa every year. According to the same cable from June 2009, “President Mills has stated that he is resolute in stopping people from using Ghana as a narcotics transit corridor and will vigorously fight for the total eradication of hard drugs in the country. So far, he has shown a good faith effort.”

Sources: BBC News, Guardian

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

President Mills inaugurates Ghana's first oil

Ghana has finally joined a host of oil exporting African nations by pumping its first commercial oil after the discovery of the offshore Jubilee field in 2007. President John Atta Mills opened the valves, in a televised inauguration ceremony, at the 330 metre long platform off the country's Atlantic coast.

A consortium led by Tullow will aim to produce around 55,000 b/d increasing it to up to 120,000 b/d within the next six months. The initial production output is expected to double within three years. Ghana's is likely to earn in the region of $400 million in the first year.

Ghana's Energy Minister Joseph Oteng-Adjei said that the government has ensured that the country benefits from its oil wealth, adding “Ghana has taken various decisions, which proves that we are not going the path of other countries. We've also put down some basic rules to ensure transparency in the management of the revenue that will come out of this natural resource.”

The government has been deliberating legislation to safeguard the country's oil industry – and avoid the pitfalls faced by nearby Nigeria – but it is yet to put the laws in place.

Speaking before the inauguration ceremony, President Mills assured Ghanaians that oil wealth would be distributed fairly across the board. Reiterating his reassurance from earlier in the year Mills said, "I'd also wish to restate that revenue from the oil will be used for the benefit of all, and not the benefit of a few."

The government has estimated that the oil will boost Ghana's economic growth rate from 5 per cent this year up to 12 per cent by next year, with oil production bringing in around $1 billion in revenue. The Jubilee field, 60km of Ghana 's Atlantic coast, is estimated to hold up to 1.5 barrels of oil. A second offshore field, discovered in September, is also estimated to contain up to 1.4 billion barrels oil.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Voice of America

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.

President Mills assures effective running of oil and gas industry

President John Atta Mills has made an official statement assuring the nation that the Government will ensure effective running of the oil and gas industry for the benefit of all Ghanaians. He emphasised accountability and transparency in the operations of the industry, and gave a pledge that his administration will work to make sure that the oil and gas sector is run fairly and responsibly.

The pledge was prompted by a delegation of Tullow Ghana Limited representatives, led by Dr Idan Heavey, chief executive officer of Tullow Ghana; Pat Pluukett, board chairman; Dai Jones, president and general manager; and Kofi Esson, chief of staff. President Mills said that the government would ensure that the collaboration with Tullow would work to the benefit of the nation and its economy, and applauded Tullow for their expertise and guaranteed full government cooperation.

Dr Heavey said that there was great potential in the oil and gas sector, with prospects for development of ancillary industries. With the arrival of the Kwame Nkrumah Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading, (FPSO) facility at the Jubilee Fields in Takoradi in the Western Region last week, all is set for the production of oil for the last quarter of 2010.

Source: Ghana Web

For more news and expert analysis about Ghana, please see Ghana Politics & Security.