Court rules on Takoradi port expansion case Friday
The Secondi High Court will Friday give a ruling in the case in which five Members of Parliament (MP) have prayed the court to remove a restriction government has imposed on further expansion of oil and gas facilities at the Takoradi Port.
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The five MPs are Kwaku Kwarteng for Obuasi West, Kwabena Okyere Darko for Takoradi, Joseph Cudjoe for Effia, Mavis Hawa Koomson for Ewutu Senya and Kofi Brako for Tema Central.
On July 17, 2014, Parliament approved an agreement made between Ghana Government and a British company, Lonrho Ports, for the development of an oil and gas freeport in the Western Region.
Clause seven of the said agreement bars Takoradi Port from further expanding its facilities for oil and gas until Lonrho has built its freeport, recovered all its cost, and made enough profit.
The agreement actually bars all persons or companies from building any oil and gas port facilities in the entire Western Region until Lonrho has recovered its investment and made its profit.
But the five MPs argue that the restriction imposed on a national port like the Takoradi Port was unlawful.
In their affidavit, they said the restriction offends section five of the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority Act and have therefore prayed the court to remove the restriction.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice who is respondent in the case and who was in court at the last hearing is expected in court on Friday.
