The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee and Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has credited the previous government led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with laying the groundwork for the newly announced oil and gas discovery in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points (DWTCTP) block.
He said key contractual, regulatory and administrative processes that paved the way for the exploration project were completed under the previous administration, urging Ghanaians to acknowledge its contribution to the discovery.
His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement on Tuesday, November 10, of a new oil and gas discovery in the Deepwater Cape Three Points block in the Tano Basin.
Mahama announces discovery
His remarks follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, of a new oil and gas discovery in the Deepwater Cape Three Points block in the Tano Basin.
The discovery was made at the Nya Gyidie-1X exploration well in the Deepwater Cape Three Points (DWCTP) block by Planet One Oil & Gas Limited in partnership with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
President Mahama announced the discovery at the opening of the 2026 Local Content Conference and Exhibition organised by the Petroleum Commission in Takoradi.
The well has encountered gas and condensate, although the estimated size and commercial potential of the discovery are yet to be established.
According to the President, the successful drilling exercise demonstrates renewed investor confidence in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector and highlights the growing capacity of indigenous companies to undertake major exploration activities.
The Deepwater Cape Three Points block is currently operated by Planet One Oil & Gas, which holds a 75 per cent participating interest. GNPC holds 15 per cent, while GOIL Upstream owns the remaining 10 per cent.
The block was previously operated by American oil giant ExxonMobil, which relinquished its interest in 2021.
President Mahama said the discovery reflected the government’s efforts to restore investor confidence, resolve outstanding industry challenges and attract fresh investments to reverse declining crude oil production.
Collins Adomako-Mensah reacts
The find contains gas and condensate, although its estimated size has yet to be established.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, November 11, Mr Adomako-Mensah outlined the sequence of decisions and approvals that facilitated Planet One Oil and Gas Limited’s entry into the contract area and its subsequent appointment as operator.
He traced the process to May 2021, when ExxonMobil, the then operator of the DWTCTP contract area, communicated its decision to relinquish its interest in the block.
Following ExxonMobil’s exit, he said the Ministry of Energy, in May 2022, approved the transfer of its 80 per cent participating interest to GOIL Offshore, which already held a five per cent stake. This increased GOIL Offshore’s interest to 85 per cent, while GNPC retained 15 per cent.
Mr Adomako-Mensah said the Ministry subsequently directed GOIL Offshore to secure a strategic partner to enable it to meet its obligations under the petroleum agreement.
The process culminated in the Ministry’s approval, on February 14, 2024, of GOIL Offshore’s request to transfer 75 per cent of its participating interest to Planet One.
Planet One was subsequently nominated by the partners as operator of the contract area, with the Ministry approving the nomination.
The MP also highlighted the extension of the Initial Exploration Period, which he said was granted to allow the companies to complete outstanding studies and prepare for exploratory drilling.
According to him, the Petroleum Commission approved a two-year extension, comprising an initial six months and a further 18 months, ending on January 2, 2026.
He said the extension was specifically intended to enable the companies to undertake additional studies and drill an exploration well.
“Thus, by January 7, 2025, when the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration handed over to President Mahama, all the background work from the side of the state culminating in the just announced discovery had been sealed,” he wrote.
Mr Adomako-Mensah consequently called for recognition of the previous administration’s role in facilitating the project, particularly acknowledging former Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
“Let us give credit when necessary!!!!” he said, adding: “Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh You played a key role. Thanks, sir.”
