Ghana Government-Kosmos Energy Debacle

… ARE WB/IFC DANCING TO THE TUNE OF RIGHTWING KOSMOS’ LOBBYIST RIVA LEVINSON?

I am concerned about current developments in which the International Finance
Corporation (IFC) has singled out relationship between MODEC and Strategic Oil
and Gas (StratOil) - a company in which Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, a former Chief
Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has a stake
- for scrutiny, amidst leaking its business to pro-Kosmos media in Ghana,
obviously with intent to creating 'panic and alarm' about threat to first oil
time-table.

It is curious that it was this same IFC that refused to come to provide vital
information to the courts of Ghana in connection with its dealings in a project
it supported in Ghana, when Tsikata was CEO of the national oil company, which
was needed to advance the course of justice in the trial of the same Tsatsu
Tsikata that they seem to be targeting now on behalf of Kosmos Energy and its
rightwing financiers!


I would like to know and communicate to the good people of Ghana, why the IFC
would not be interested in investigating the relationship that exists between
Kosmos Energy, which it has financed to the tune of $100 million and the E.O.
Group, where the latter is beneficiary of 3.5% of the Kosmos deal, estimated to
value well over $200million. The government and people of Ghana have just 10%!

For your information, the EO Group was formed by two bosom friends of former
President John Kufuor, namely: Kwame Barwuah Edusei and George Owusu, where
Edusei was made an ambassador just after the deal was struck. Particularly,
where I understand one partner of the EO Group has confessed to fraudulently
misrepresenting his partner in the incorporation documentation of the Group as
well as other partners in related businesses.(See Kosmos’ Darkest Secrets
published byThe Enquirer
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=175414 for
details. Copy also attached).

It becomes obvious that these are intimidatory tactics meant to whip GNPC to
reverse its decision declining consent to a sale and purchase agreement (SPA)
between Kosmos Energy and ExxonMobil, on the grounds that the two had engaged in
a flawed process over which they had previously been notified.

These moves clearly demonstrate arm-twisting, blackmailing and the dirtiest
tricks to be employed by any reputable body and if that is how the World Bank
and its affiliates operate then I'm sorry I held it in such high esteem.


Clearly as you can imagine from the tone of this piece, I'm highly disappointed
at these underhand dealings, which shows your people as Economic Hitmen @ Work!
(See also: US Blackmails Ghana Over Kosmos, published by The Public Agenda
newspaper in Ghana–

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=182153Copy also
attached.

I and the good people of Ghana want to know if the World Bank and the IFC have
become party to this blackmailing process targeting a country that is only
trying to enforce its laws work.


A number of us concerned citizens would like to use this opportunity to seek
audience with Ghana’s Executive Director at the World Bank to present our
disdain about this clear demonstration of double standards by a supposedly
reputable institution which was established to seek the interest of the people
of the world!

I am forwarding also a clip of a promo on a lobbyist K. Riva Levinson, hired by
Kosmos, who describes herself as a "Trouble Maker" for Ghana in the company's
dispute with GNPC.


She first lies with an assertion that the government of Ghana had changed the
terms of the original petroleum agreement with Kosmos Energy, and states her
role specifically as lobbying the IFC and the US Congress among others, to put
pressure on the Government of Ghana as a way of getting it to buckle down on its
dealings with Kosmos Energy!

I look forward to receiving a prompt response to the queries I have raised
above.

J. Ato Kobbie
Managing Editor, The Business Analyst


cc: U.S. President Barack Obama through White House contact form.