THE Ghanaian government, yesterday, settled part of its debt to the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) and Nigeria Gas Association, NGA, following the first round of talks with the Nigerian authorities.
The negotiations, it was learned, will continue as yesterday’s payment of $10 million buys Ghana some time to conclude negotiations to curtail the cut in gas supply from Nigeria. WAPCo had threatened to cut gas supply to Ghana on Friday, over $180 million debt owed NGA, but it suspended the decision after the deadline for payment elapsed last night.
Harriet Wereko Brobbey, Corporate Affairs Director for the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company, told a Ghanaian news outfit that the company is still transporting natural gas to Ghana.
Sources in Nigeria told the news medium that Ghana has committed first payment of close to 10 million dollars to NGA. This agreement was reached with some conditions. The partners are expected to meet over the weekend to structure out a payment plan which will be agreed on by other partners.
Though the negotiation was confidential, reports indicate that some of the key issues discussed included the fact that Ghana is one of the biggest customers of WAPCO for gas supply because of its strategic role in the West African sub region in the supply of electricity.
Nigeria in the past had not been honoring its agreement in the amount of gas it must contractually supply Ghana which became a major talking point from late 2014 into early this year.
The issue also played out during the negotiations, according to sources in easing the hard stance by the Nigerians companies.
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