Ghana Air Force Tells Oil Companies to Pay Up

Petroleum Africa February 17, 2012

International firms operating out of Ghana’s Takoradi Air Force Base are being asked to pay up or be evicted. According to local press reports nine firms owe outstanding electric bills immediately.

Chief of Air Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, gave this directive in Takoradi at a meeting with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the nine oil companies which includes Tullow Oil, Kosmos Energy, and Hess Corp. The meeting was to resolve the overdue bill issue.

Samson-Oje indicated that the non-payment of bills would no longer be tolerated and he would not hesitate in ejecting any company in payment default from the Air-Force base. Apparently these companies owe several million Ghana Cedis in charges.

"I have authorized the base commander that if the ECG complains of non-payment, he should see to it that the defaulter is disconnected; and if you go and connect it yourself then it means you are engaging in an illegality, I will eject you within forty-eight hours," he warned.

He said the companies should negotiate with the ECG on the terms of payment without any delay in order to maintain cordial relations. He also denied rumors that the air force was charging the oil companies for electricity and was using the money to carry out its operations.