West Africa Pipeline Bill goes through second reading

Accra, Oct 29, GNA- The West African Gas Pipeline Bill went through the second reading in Parliament on Friday.

The bill seeks to incorporate into domestic laws of Ghana, the provision of the treaty on the Gas Pipeline that required reinforcement by law in Ghana.

Moving for the second reading, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Energy, said the pipeline would help reduce the cost of thermal power production in the country.

He said Ghana would be at liberty to harness its natural gas in future and even use the pipe to export excess.

Mr Prince Oduro Mensah, NPP-Techiman South, said the project is to integrate and share the resources of the sub-region among its population.

The West African Gas Pipeline Treaty was signed by the Heads of States of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo on January 31, 2003, in Dakar, Senegal and subsequently ratified by Parliament of Ghana on June 2004.

The Gas Pipeline would transmit natural gas through the territorial waters of member states, Mr Mensah said.

In another development, the House passed the Civil Aviation Bill. It seeks to consolidate and make relevant all existing pieces of legislation relating to aviation in the Ghana. 29 Oct. 04