BY Daniel Bampoe
Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has raised concerns over delays in the progress of Ghana’s proposed carbon credit agreement with BP, questioning government officials on the status of the negotiations and urging the responsible ministry to pursue alternative steps to move the process forward.
Speaking on the floor of the Parliament on Thursday, the Minority Chief Whip acknowledged the challenges facing the sector minister but pressed for clarity on what appears to be a prolonged waiting period in the negotiations.
According to him, developments around the carbon credit initiative had shown steady progress since 2023, but the process had suddenly stalled, raising questions about what might be hindering further movement.
Annoh-Dompreh asked whether the delay could be attributed to a lack of interest from the Godfred Yeboah Dame’s office in pursuing the legal framework for the deal or whether Ghana had not adequately prepared its documentation for the agreement.
He described the situation as a potential “cul-de-sac,” urging the ministry to explain the cause of the apparent stagnation and outline a clear path forward.
The MP sought to know specifically what the ministry was doing to break the impasse and whether alternative approaches were being considered to accelerate a response from BP.
He stressed that Ghana could not afford to remain idle while waiting indefinitely for feedback, particularly when the country stands to benefit from emerging opportunities in the global carbon credit market, which is increasingly seen as a key mechanism for financing climate action and sustainable development.
Responding to the concerns raised on the floor, the minister indicated that a memorandum related to the agreement had already been reviewed and a legal opinion forwarded to BP, with Ghana currently awaiting the company’s response before further progress can be made.
According to the minister, until the multinational energy company formally responds to the legal opinion and grants consent, government is unable to proceed with the next phase of the agreement.
However, Annoh-Dompreh maintained that Ghana must adopt a more proactive posture in addressing the delay, stressing that the country cannot simply “put its hands behind its back” while waiting for a response.
He argued that the proposed arrangement is a collaborative agreement between Ghana and BP and therefore requires continuous engagement to ensure progress.
Despite his criticisms, the Minority Chief Whip struck a conciliatory tone by offering the support of the Minority Caucus to help the government navigate the challenges surrounding the carbon credit negotiations.
He assured the House that members on the Minority side, including MPs with expertise in climate and environmental matters, were ready to assist the ministry in advancing the initiative for the benefit of the country.
Annoh-Dompreh further noted that he had personally attempted to reach the minister over the past month to discuss the matter but had been unsuccessful.
Nonetheless, he pledged that he and other knowledgeable Members of Parliament would remain available to provide support whenever necessary, emphasizing that the issue should be treated as a national priority rather than a partisan matter.
