A heated dispute has erupted between the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) and the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Hon. Michael Kwasi Aidoo, over the status of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) following its recent maintenance shutdown.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, Ghana Gas dismissed claims by the lawmaker that the plant remains offline and that critical technical failures have jeopardised the country’s energy security.
In a statement signed by Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah, Head of Corporate Affairs, Ghana Gas insisted that the planned shutdown, which included calibration of safety systems, compressor overhauls, and servicing of the heat medium system, had been executed successfully and even ahead of schedule.
“We wish to state categorically that these reports are false and misleading.
“The maintenance exercise was successfully completed ahead of schedule and in strict conformity with international safety and operational standards.”
Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah, Head of Corporate Affairs, Ghana Gas
Management added that the plant had been restarted on August 27, 2025, and has since been delivering sales gas to downstream consumers, including power producers and industrial users.
The company hailed its technical team for achieving a record restart time of five days, compared to the usual 14 days required after such shutdowns.
“A feat that should be commended as a demonstration of improved planning, efficiency, and technical excellence.”
Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah, Head of Corporate Affairs, Ghana Gas
Ghana Gas also called on media outlets and the public to verify information before publication, stressing that the plant remains in “optimal condition” and continues to supply reliable gas for national energy stability.
MP Aidoo: “Damage and Mismanagement Cannot Be Hidden”
But Hon. Michael Kwasi Aidoo painted a very different picture. In a Facebook post that has since gained traction, the Oforikrom MP alleged that the plant remains offline due to technical mishaps during maintenance.
According to him, a problematic changeover of the petroterm (heat transfer) lubricant left critical piping and heat exchangers clogged and inoperable, preventing a smooth restart.
“The crux of the problem lies in the ill-fated changeover of the petroterm lubricant: accumulated waste was never fully flushed from the system, leaving the plant compromised.”
Hon. Michael Kwasi Aidoo, Member of Parliament for Oforikrom
He further alleged that the shutdown has forced the state to rely more heavily on costly alternative fuels and gas imports, escalating financial burdens that would ultimately fall on taxpayers.
The MP also questioned procurement decisions, revealing that 28 different contractors were engaged for the shutdown, including Messrs Blue Power Ltd, which he said was awarded a US$416,000 contract.
He asked, “On what basis was Blue Power Ltd selected, and what due diligence was performed before awarding this high-value contract?” demanding answers on whether proper tendering processes had been followed and if the chemicals used for flushing were appropriate.
Hon. Aidoo further claimed that the Deputy CEO for Technical and Operations had distanced himself from Atuabo in recent weeks after allegedly being sidelined in technical decision-making.
His departure, the MP argued, pointed to deeper issues of mismanagement and silence within Ghana Gas.
“Indeed, a serious degree of damage has already been inflicted on the nation’s flagship gas-processing asset, a damage that, if swept under the carpet, could lead to even more severe outages and cost overruns.”
Hon. Michael Kwasi Aidoo, Member of Parliament for Oforikrom
He called on Parliament, despite being in recess, to convene a special inquiry into the matter and urged the Minister for Energy and Green Transition to take urgent corrective measures to avert another round of crippling power outages.
Energy Security at Stake
The conflicting accounts from Ghana Gas and the Oforikrom MP have sparked public debate about transparency, governance, and accountability in the management of Ghana’s energy assets.
While Ghana Gas maintains that the shutdown was a success and operations have fully resumed, critics argue that lingering technical problems and procurement irregularities could have long-term implications for national energy security.
With the memory of past power crises still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians, the stakes are high. The coming weeks may determine whether the Atuabo plant’s shutdown will be remembered as a technical triumph or a costly misstep.
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