{"id":610357,"date":"2019-04-26T06:26:24","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T06:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"
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\"IMANI\u2019s<\/p>\n
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\"IMANI\u2019s<\/figure>\n
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A former deputy Minister of Energy under the Kufuor administration, \u00a0K.T Hammond has downplayed the concerns of Policy Think Tank, IMANI Africa over Ghana\u2019s agreement with a Norwegian oil company, Aker Energy.<\/p>\n

IMANI had accused Aker Energy of shortchanging Ghana in its petroleum Agreement with the country for oil production.<\/p>\n

It claims Aker Energy did not have any formal agreement with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation before it explored oil in some areas outside the blocks it inherited from original owners Hess Energy.<\/p>\n

But speaking on Eyewitness News<\/strong>, Mr. Hammond indicated that the claims by the policy think thank is without basis since the terms of the contract do not allow for such amendments.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat they [IMANI] are saying is mind-boggling. What they mean is that the Hess bloc that was acquired by Aker has not been restricted to its original bloc area and they were extending it to some other areas.\u00a0 That can\u2019t be done because it doesn\u2019t work like that. So I am not sure it is factually accurate. They also said Aker was changing the terms \u2013 that can\u2019t also be done. What exists is, Aker is asking for an amendment of the original terms given to the Hess. Even if that is the case and they did that, I have no doubt that the end product will have to come back to Parliament,\u201d said KT Hammond.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Aker Energy in January announced that it has discovered oil in commercial quantities at the Cape Three Points offshore site.<\/p>\n