Breach Of Contract: Nigeria Compensates Ghana And So What?

Ghana has received a compensation of $10 million over Nigeria failure to meet supply of gas agreement between the two countries in which Nigeria is required to supply Ghana with 123 Million Metric British Thermal Units (MMBtu) per day.

As usual, Nigeria has failed to meet the target to supplying Ghana 30 MMBtu/d quantity of Gas. The Director of Planning and Business Development of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Kofi Ellis, said Ghana has been paid some damages by Nigeria over the shortfall in the Gas Agreement between the two countries as stipulated in their contract.

Now! damages are paid to Ghana but Ghanaian People are still experiencing ("Dumsor") rampant electricity cut off, even though the Development of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has enough means to satisfy the Ghanaian citizens pertaining to the supply of Gas and Electricity.

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has nothing better to do about the terrible Gas Problems the Country is facing than telling the Ghanaian People, “I guess the Nigerians also share in our problems. They understand, and the unfortunate thing is that this is a commodity that both countries need for themselves. So it is a matter of trying to see how best you can help your neighbour.”

If the Nigerians are not in the capacity to regularly and constantly supply Ghana with the Requisite volume of Gas, why is the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah idly sitting down (doing nothing) about the deplorable Energy Situation.

All what the Minister could say is, the contract signed “many years ago” will not be abrogated though Nigeria is facing challenges in meeting the terms. Even though it is clear that the constant expectation supply of gas from Nigeria is the Major or principal cause of challenges in the energy sector.

Why is the Minister of Energy not looking for an emergency substitute or alternative means to Support the energy problems in the Country?

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg - Germany)