The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, has warned that Ghana could face widespread power outages by September this year if it fails to settle a debt of over $12 million owed to the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo).

He explained that WAPCo is threatening to cut off gas supplies from Nigeria by September 6.

“So, that is a threat we are facing, if we do not pay this 12 million by the 7th of September, they would shut down the pipeline completely for both gas from Nigeria and reverse flow of gas from the West to Tema”.

John Jinapor

The Minority in Parliament has announced plans to summon the Ministries of Energy and Finance to address urgent questions regarding the growing judgment debt between Ghana and the oil giant, Trafigura.

This comes after Oil conglomerate Trafigura, took over one of the country’s most important commercial properties, the Regina House in London, following the failure of the government to pay up a $134 million judgment debt.

For four years Trafiguara has been unsuccessful in getting the government of Ghana to pay up the judgment debt awarded to the energy firm after the abrupt termination of a power purchase agreement.

This situation forced Trafigura to secure another judgment in the United States courts which awarded a mandatory interest on the default of 111.4 million dollars which remains the arrears to be paid by the Republic of Ghana. Source: Isaac Kafui Nyanyovor