Court throws out suit against Atuabo Freeport project

The case of the five MPs praying an Appeals Court to stop the Atuabo Freeport project has been thrown out.

In July 2014, Parliament approved an agreement between the government of Ghana and a British company, Lonrho Ports, for the development of an oil and gas free port at Atuabo.

Clause 7 of the agreement bars Takoradi Port from further expanding its facilities for oil and gas until Lonrho builds its freeport, recovers all its costs, and makes enough profit.

The appeal was seeking to overturn a ruling by the Sekondi High Court in October last year that dismissed the MPs’ application for a judicial review of a law they claim restricts further expansion of oil and gas facilities at the Takoradi Port in favor of Atuabo Free Port.

In filing their application, however, the MPs – Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, Obuasi West; Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko, Takoradi; Mr Joseph Cudjoe, Effia; Mr Kofi Brako, Tema Central, and Mavis Hawa Koomson, Ewutu Senya, argued that the clause was illegal.

Meanwhile, the Atuabo Freeport Ghana Ltd has welcomed the ruling. The company said in a statement that it is currently carrying out soils investigation and other processes for the project to commence.

It added that it is looking forward to the realization of Ghana’s first Free Port which will offer a gateway to the offshore oil and gas industry in Ghana and the wider Gulf of Guinea.