The five Members of Parliament (MPs) who dragged government to court over the execution of the Atuabo Freeport in the Western Region have written a “friendly” letter to the British firm championing the project, Lonrho Ports, urging them to proceed.
According to the five New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, the matter before the Sekondi Court “has nothing to do with the Atuabo Freeport.”
“We however welcome Lonrho Ports to invest in the Atuabo Freeport Project. Our court action has nothing to do with you. Ghana and Britain are friends, and we are glad to see British nationals work in our country. Please proceed with the Atuabo Freeport Project,” the MPs said.
They explained that “the matter we are asking the Appeals Court to resolve is the restriction imposed on the expansion of oil and gas facilities at the Takoradi Port. There is no controversy on the Atuabo Freeport.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”7xYBeBIX82B5c1Ujm6LA2Oo1IQdTJINk”]Parliament, in July 2014, approved an agreement between the government and Lonrho Ports, for the development of an oil and gas Freeport in the Western Region.
The NPP MPs claimed a controversial clause in the agreement which bars the Takoradi Port from further expanding its facilities until Lonrho has built the freeport, recovered all its cost, and made enough profit was not in the best interest of the country.
They went to court in Sekondi but the Court on October 24, declined hearing on the matter stating that it does not have the power to adjudicate such case.
The MPs’ decision to go to court on the matter has attracted some level of opposition from the communities around the site who are looking forward to have the youth of the area get employment.
Some have also threatened to vote against the MPs in the region because of the court action.
But the Parliamentarians insisted they are anxious to see investors come in the country to expand the economy and create more jobs hence urging the British firm, Lonrho Ports to expedite action on the project.
“Ghanaians, especially our brothers and sisters in the Atuabo area therefore want to see you begin work on the Atuabo Freeport, and we respectfully urge you to do so without further delay,” they advised.
The five MP’s are; Kwaku Kwarteng (Obuasi West MP), Kwabena Okyere Darko (Takoradi MP), Joseph Cudjoe (Effia MP), Mavis Hawa Koomson ( Ewutu Senya MP) and Kofi Brako (Tema Central MP).
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana