Collins Adomako-Mensah (L) says Akufo-Addo (R) worked hard on the new oil discovery
The Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has credited the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration with laying the groundwork for the recently announced Planet One oil discovery in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWTCTP) Contract Area.
Speaking on this in a Facebook post on November 11, 2026, he said the previous government facilitated key decisions, including the transfer of ExxonMobil’s 80 percent interest in the contract area to GOIL Offshore and the subsequent transfer of 75 percent of GOIL Offshore’s interest to Planet One.
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Adomako-Mensah, also the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee, said the Ministry of Energy approved Planet One as the operator of the contract area in May 2024 and supported an extension of the exploration period to allow the companies to complete studies ahead of drilling an exploratory well.
“On 23rd May, 2024, GOIL Offshore wrote to the Ministry informing it of the nomination of Planet One as the Operator of the DWTCP Contract Area by the Partners. The Ministry gave its approval to the nomination of Planet One as Operator of the DWTCTP Contract Area.
“The two companies wrote another letter dated 1st July, 2024 to the Ministry in respect of the extension of the IEP. The Ministry in turn wrote a letter to the Petroleum Commission dated 12th July, 2024 informing it of the request and recommended a grant of the request,” he said.
He added, “The Petroleum Commission had on 11th July, 2024 written to GOIL Offshore and Planet One approving a two part extension to the IEP in the nature of: (a) an initial extension of 6 months from 2nd January, 2024 to 2nd July, 2024 restituting six months lost to the DWTCTP Contract Area as they worked to complete the farm out process, and (b) a further extension of 18 months commencing on 1st July, 2024 and ending on 2nd January, 2026.”
The MP argued that these steps had been completed before the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration handed over power in January 2025.
“Thus, by January 7, 2025 when the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration handed over to President Mahama, all the background work from the side of the state culminating in the just announced discovery had been sealed,” he said.
The MP called on Ghanaians to acknowledge the previous administration’s role in the process.
“Let us give credit when necessary!!!!!” the MP added.
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The comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement on Tuesday, November 10, of a new oil and gas discovery in the Deepwater Cape Three Points block in the Tano Basin.
The discovery was made by Planet One Oil and Gas Limited in partnership with GNPC following the drilling of the Nya Gyidie-1X exploration well.
The find contains gas and condensate, although its estimated size has not yet been established
Read his full post below:
MAG/EB
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