Ghana Gas Company to appeal court ruling

The Ghana Gas Company is expected to appeal a ruling by a Sekondi High Court restraining the Company, its main contractor, SINOPEC, and three others from carrying out any operation on the land on which the Ghana Gas Project is sited.

“We are hoping to appeal the restraining order within the fourteen days,” said Alfred Ogbamey, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Company. He was speaking on TV3’s Midday Live on Tuesday, June 10.

The order restraining the companies including Ghana Oil Company and Quantum Gas was secured by the Omanhene of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III. An affidavit in support of the order stated that none of the companies had lawfully acquired the land from the traditional authority.

But Mr Ogbamey told TV3’s Kweku Temeng that the necessary consultations were made but a process to value the land is what is delaying the payment of compensation to the chiefs and people of Eastern Nzema.

“The process is ongoing…at the Land Evaluation Board,” Mr Ogbamey mentioned. He said the Company is not worried “at all” about the development since it sees it as a strategy by the chiefs to get “something” before the commissioning of the project.

He said delays in compensation usually characterize projects like the Ghana Gas Project, citing Akosombo and the creation of the hydro-electric dam. “We believe that this issue can be resolved once and for all,” he assured.