Ghana Oil: NDC, NPP fight over commerciality for Eban-Akoma discoveries

A few days ago, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has confirmed the commercial viability of the Eban and Akoma discoveries in the Cape Three Points Block 4 (CTP B4), marking a major step forward for the country’s upstream petroleum sector.

In a notification filed on 3 July 2025, the Joint Venture partners, Eni Ghana Exploration & Production, Vitol Upstream Tano, Woodfields Upstream Ghana, and GNPC’s Explorco, submitted a formal Declaration of Commerciality after completing an appraisal programme that verified substantial oil at the Eban 1X well and gas condensate at Akoma 1X.

In a statement issued in Accra by the Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, described the discovery as a milestone, “a major boost to our oil and gas sector,” and said it underscored the government’s commitment to sustainably harnessing Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources.

The Minister highlighted the immense potential of the offshore resources to economic transformation, enhancing energy security, and driving Ghana’s industrialization agenda.

But addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on the development on Monday 7th July, 2025, the former Deputy Energy Minister, Collins Adomako-Mensah, and MP for the Member of Parliament for the Effigya Kwabre North has refuted the claims attributing the news discovery to the current NDC administration.

He said, “It is instructive to note that both the Akoma and Eban Discoveries were made under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, and were among other discoveries made under that administration as a result of a deliberate plan for reserve replacement”.

NPP MP further submitted that, “the Akoma and Eban Discoveries were all made within Cape Three Points-Block 4 Contract Area under the Cape Three Points (CTP) Block 4 Petroleum Agreement”, during NPP time.

According to him, the NPP’s record in the development of Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources is enviable and evidenced by reforms to the upstream sector’s fiscal regime from the Kufuor-Aliu Mahama administration and the historic discoveries under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

Below is the full statement:

GOVERNMENT LIES ON ENI’S  EBAN-AKOMA DISCOVERIES

The attention of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has been drawn to a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition dated 4^th July, 2025.

The said statement with the subject: DECLARATION OF COMMERCIALITY FOR EBAN-AKOMA DISCOVERIES MARKS MAJOR MILESTONE IN GHANA’S UPSTREAM PETROLEUM SECTOR represents a failed and shambolic attempt to credit the Mahama administration with success it has no hand in. Part of the statement under reference said “…Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition described the declaration as a clear testament to the Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources…This milestone underscores the Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a transparent, investor friendly, and resilient energy sector that delivers long term value for the Ghanaian people.”

Considering the lies, twists and cheap political potshots contained in the Statement, the Minority is compelled to react as follows:

1. Eni Ghana, following approval by the Petroleum Commission under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration drilled a well known as the Akoma-1X Well in the Cape Three Points-Block 4 Contract Area in 2019; and announced a discovery of gas and condensate from that Well on 9^th May, 2019 with a further additional upside for gas and oil that will require further drilling to be confirmed. Eni’s Press Release announcing the Akoma Discovery was published at its website on  9^th May, 2019 with the subject: ENI ANNOUNCES AKOMA DISCOVERY IN CTP-BLOCK 4, OFFSHORE GHANA on its website with the link being; https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2019/05/eni-announces-akoma-discovery-in-ctp-block-4-offshore-ghana.html

1. On 6^th July, 2021, Eni once again announced a significant discovery of oil following its drilling of another well known as the Eban-1X. The Eban Discovery, thus became the second discovery by Eni within two years.  Eni published the Eban Discovery at its website on 6^th July, 2021 with the link as: https://www.eni.com/en-IT/media/press-release/2021/07/eni-announces-significant-discovery-block-ghana.html

1. It is instructive to note that both the Akoma and Eban Discoveries were made under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration; and were among other discoveries made under that administration as a result of a deliberate plan for reserve replacement.

1. The Akoma and Eban Discoveries were all made within Cape Three Points-Block 4 Contract Area under the Cape Three Points (CTP) Block 4 Petroleum Agreement.

1. Eni, as required by the CTP Block-4 Petroleum Agreement formally issued two separate Notices of Discovery to the then Ministry of Energy, the Petroleum Commission and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

1. These discoveries were also announced or published by sections of the Ghanaian media.

2022. As provided for in the CTP-Block 4, Petroleum Agreement, Eni; to meet its obligation to conduct appraisals of each of the two discoveries (Akoma and Eban) requested the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration to be permitted to effect a single but joint appraisal (instead of two separate appraisals for each of the two discoveries) of the two discoveries to save costs and also fast track the appraisal programme to result in a shorter field development to production cycle in the event that the discoveries are found to be commercial upon appraisal. The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, as part of its commitment to speed up the processes involved in bringing Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources to the surface quickly and to avert stranded resources in light of the Energy Transition; gave approval to Eni to undertake a joint but single appraisal programme in respect of the Eban-Akoma Discoveries; which discoveries are now known as the Eban-Akoma Complex. That approval was issued by a letter to Eni by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration dated 28^th July, 2022.

1. It is therefore dishonest, disingenuous and a palsy of truth for the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to project or suggest as it sought to do per its statement under reference.

1. Subsequent to the approval of Eni’s Eban-Akoma Appraisal Programme by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, Eni has undertaken Appraisal(s) of the Eban-Akoma Discoveries and come to the conclusion that the two Discoveries are commercial enough to merit investments for field development and production.

1. What has simply taken place is that; following a successful outcome of a prior approved Appraisal of the Eban-Akoma Discoveries, Eni has as is required of it under the CTP-Block 4 Petroleum Agreement informed the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition of its determination that the Discoveries are commercial and can be produced; upon a later approval of a Plan of Development.

1. The Minority wonders how the Mahama administration that had nothing to do with the drilling of the Akoma and Eban Exploration Wells; as well as approval of the Appraisal Programme of the two Discoveries, will all of a sudden claim that the results of an Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration approved Appraisal Programme that has resulted in declaration of commerciality are a credit to it.

1. In Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry, it is a Contractor/Operator that has the duty of informing the State of the outcome of any approved appraisal programme. That is what Eni did recently. The Mahama administration, for self-serving purposes has sought to covet this normal reporting to a fanfare whose cause is attributable to it even though it is barely 7 months in office. The Mahama administration ought to learn that the upstream sector requires a lot of patience and deliberate planning whose results are not attainable in such non-existent record times as it has disingenuously sought to communicate on the premises of statements of doubtful validity.

1. For the record, the Minority wishes to inform the Mahama administration that the following discoveries were made during the eight (years) of the Akufo-Addo Bawumia administration:

1. The above Table showing the discoveries will reveal that between 2018 and 2022, a total of 7 discoveries out of six (6) wells drilled were made. Eni’s Aprokuma 1X Well resulted in two discoveries at what the Geoscientists call the Albian Level and the Cenomanian Level; hence the count of 7 discoveries out of six (6) wells that were drilled under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.

1. Let the Mahama administration take note that these 7 discoveries cannot be ‘appropriated’ by it as having occurred under its watch.

1. The NPP’s record in the development of Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources is enviable and evidenced by reforms to the upstream sector’s fiscal regime from the Kufuor-Aliu Mahama administration and the historic discoveries under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.