BY Daniel Bampoe
A fresh political row has erupted over the ownership of credit for Ghana’s recent oil and gas developments, particularly the declaration of commerciality for the Eban-Akoma Complex.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament is accusing the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government led by President John Dramani Mahama of misleading the public and taking undue credit for hydrocarbon discoveries that were, in fact, made under the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
The bone of contention lies in a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition on July 4, 2025, in which Energy Minister John Jinapor hailed the commercial declaration of the Eban-Akoma fields as a “major milestone” and a testament to the Mahama administration’s commitment to sustainable hydrocarbon development.
However, in a detailed rebuttal, the NPP Minority described the statement as “dishonest, disingenuous, and a palsy of truth,” insisting that both discoveries were the result of deliberate policies, approvals, and initiatives under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration.
Drilling and Discovery: A Timeline of Events
The NPP outlined that the Eban and Akoma discoveries were made by Italian energy giant Eni during the NPP’s tenure:
Akoma-1X: Drilled in May 2019, this gas and condensate discovery was announced by Eni on May 9, 2019, under the approval of the Petroleum Commission.
Eban-1X: Drilled in July 2021, this was Eni’s second major find within the Cape Three Points (CTP) Block 4 within two years.
These two discoveries, now collectively referred to as the Eban-Akoma Complex, were made possible through what the NPP describes as a strategic reserve replacement plan adopted under its leadership to ensure Ghana’s long-term energy security.
According to the NPP, following the discoveries, Eni was required under the CTP Block 4 Petroleum Agreement to notify the Ministry of Energy, the Petroleum Commission, and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) of its finds. All necessary notices, the party says, were duly filed.
Strategic Appraisal Under NPP Government
The NPP further explained that instead of undertaking separate appraisals for each discovery, Eni requested—and was granted—approval to conduct a joint appraisal programme covering both Eban and Akoma.
This move was intended to reduce costs and accelerate development. The approval for this joint appraisal, the party notes, was granted on July 28, 2022, during the Akufo-Addo administration.
Based on this appraisal, Eni recently informed the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition that the Eban-Akoma Complex is commercially viable and ready for development subject to the submission and approval of a full Plan of Development.
No Role for Mahama Administration
The NPP Minority argues that the Mahama administration had no role in either the drilling or the appraisal of the fields and should not claim credit for work it neither initiated nor supported.
“It is therefore dishonest… for the Ministry to project or suggest as it sought to do per its statement that this was an achievement of the Mahama administration,” the NPP stated.
The caucus emphasized that the declaration of commerciality is merely a procedural step following a successful appraisal programme—one that had already been approved and facilitated by the previous government.
Upstream Record Under NPP
To buttress its claim, the Minority presented a list of key oil discoveries made during the Akufo-Addo era, which include:
Discovery Operator Year Estimated Volumes
Pecan South East Aker 2018 10 million barrels of oil
Nyankom-1X AGM 2019 168 million barrels of oil
Afina-1X Springfield 2019 150–300 million barrels of oil
Akoma-1X Eni 2019 Part of 500–700 million barrels complex
Eban-1X Eni 2021 Included in Eban-Akoma Complex
Aprokuma-1X (Albian & Cenomanian) Eni 2022 Estimation in progress (dual discovery)
According to the NPP, seven significant hydrocarbon discoveries were made from just six wells between 2018 and 2022—a performance they describe as unmatched and grounded in deliberate planning and policy implementation.
Calls for Transparency and Recognition
The Minority is urging the Mahama government to resist politicising developments in the energy sector and instead build upon the solid foundation laid by its predecessors.
“This sector is not one where results can be claimed overnight. Discoveries and development take years and require long-term planning, which the NPP delivered through reforms and aggressive exploration support,” the caucus concluded.
