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\u00a0the project, Lonrho Ports, urging them to proceed.<\/p>\n
According to the \u00a0five New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, the matter before the Sekondi Court \u201chas nothing to do with the Atuabo Freeport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d the MPs said.<\/p>\n
They explained that \u201cthe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”7xYBeBIX82B5c1Ujm6LA2Oo1IQdTJINk”]Parliament, in July 2014, approved an agreement between the government and Lonrho Ports<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, for the development of an oil and gas Freeport in the Western Region.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n