Tsatsu Challenges Outgoing Energy Minister

The former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata has denied allegations by outgoing Energy Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, that he signed a bad agreement with the Nigerian Oil Company, Lushann International.

Speaking at a press conference today, Mr. Tsikata said the former Energy Minister’s reference to him at a recent press conference to address the issue of the missing oil vessel and its contents was diversionary.

He made a specific reference to Mr. Kan-Dapaah’s claim that the assets of the GNPC at the Saltpond Oilfield as contained in the agreement were valued at $500,000 but later revalued at $10 million after the current negotiations.

Mr. Tsikata says the only asset of the Corporation that was valued at $500,000 in the Lushann International agreement was the production platform. Mr. Tsikata called on the outgoing Minister to substantiate his claim.

''In view of the claims of the Minister, his adviser and their associates, and in the interest of transparency and open government, I would request that the Minister put in the public domain, the document(s) which justify his claim that production platform as well as oil wells, seismic, geological and engineering date was transferred to the joint venture for $500,000''.

''He should make available to government, the documents that I signed as well as the proposed new agreement he is advocating. That is the only way his claim to rescuing the country from ''a bad deal'' can be properly assessed''.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata also said the former Energy Minister and his advisors have not taken the time to understand the issues.

''It is unfortunate that the Minister and his advisers have not taken time to understand these issues. Listening to the Special Adviser to the Minister on JOY FM radio station on 3rd April, 2003, I was amazed and saddened about the staggering extent of ignorance which has been so blatantly deployed in the affairs of the Ministry for the past two years''.

''In response to a simple question whether there is any drilling currently going on, Mr Owusu did not obviously know the difference drilling and production and could not answer''.