Parliament ratifies three resolutions on energy

Accra, July 13, GNA - Parliament on Tuesday ratified three resolutions relating to the Energy Sector.

They were on the "Convention of the African Energy Commission and the Petroleum Agreement between Ghana; Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC) and Kosmos Energy, Ghana HC" and "E.O. Group in Respect of the West Cape Three Points Block Offshore Ghana". The last resolution was on the agreement between "Ghana, GNPC and Lushann Eternit Energy Limited".

The House by 106 votes approved the Convention of the African Energy Commission.

Mr Albert Boadi-Mensah, Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee, said the Committee observed that the African Energy Commission when established, would design, create and update continental data on energy and facilitate rapid dissemination of information among Member States. "The Commission will further mobilise financial resources to assist Member States for the development of their energy resources."

He said the decision to establish the Commission emanated from the concerns raised by African Leaders at a meeting held in Nigeria in 1980. The summit recommended the establishment of the Commission and adopted document known as the Lagos Plan of Action.

The House again through 112 votes ratified the agreement on the GNPC and Kosmos Energy Ghana HC and the E.O Group, in respect of the West Cape Three Points Block Offshore Ghana.

The Committee Report stated that the agreement sought the ratification by the House to enable the Ministry of Energy, the GNPC and Kosmos Energy HC and E.O. Group to conduct petroleum exploration and production operations in Offshore Western Cape Three Points Basin.

It said under the agreement, Kosmos and E.O. Group, who are the contractors, would be responsible for 100 per cent of the investment. GNPC would have a 10 per cent "carried interest and the contractor will have 90 per cent."

Presenting the Report, Mr Boadi-Mensah said the Agreement provided for an exploration period of seven years, adding that the country stood to benefit from rentals, acquisition of data and transfer of technology at the various stages of the exploration through to the development and production stages.

"The Committee again observed that quite apart from the earning of profit the country stands to gain more revenue through income tax, which is pegged at 35 per cent under the agreement."

Through 114 votes, the House supported the resolution on the agreement between GNPC and Lushann Eternit Energy Limited.

Mr Boadi-Mensah said the Agreement sought to update and regularise the operations of Lushann and GNPC in the Saltpond Fields.

He said the Agreement provided for a developing and production period of 20 years, adding that during this period, Lushann was expected to rehabilitate the production platform and carry out work-over operations to re-establish and carry out commercial production.

Mr Boadi-Mensah said in the event of a commercial discovery, the Government of Ghana would have a three per cent royalty from gross oil production.

Earlier, Members of the House called on leaders, opinion leaders, family heads and the communities to do more to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic, unsafe abortion, teenage pregnancy and other population issues to push the country forward in its development goals.

They were contributing to a statement by Alhaji Abdullah Salifu, NDC-Tolon, to mark this year's World Population Day, which fell on July 11.

It was under the theme: "Safe Motherhood: Everyone's Responsibility."

Mrs Cecilia Gyan-Amoah, NPP-Asutifi South, said District Assemblies should be at the forefront of promoting safe motherhood, adding that they could also sponsor nurses from the districts for training so that they could go back to support the health systems in the provision of quality care to pregnant women in the districts.