Ghana has settled $65 million, about 90% of its $75 million debt to Nigeria for gas supply over the past three months, according to a source familiar with the matter told Business day Nigeria. “Ghana paid the instalments of $37.5 million, $15 million and another $15 million, respectively, between February and April, out of the $75 million owed,” the source said.
The payments were made to N-Gas Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. The source said a smaller outstanding balance remains under processing.
The update comes amid growing scrutiny over Ghana’s financial obligations to N-Gas, which supplies natural gas through the West African Gas Pipeline to customers in Ghana, Togo and Benin. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is owned by NNPC (62.35%), Chevron N-Gas Limited (20%), and Shell Overseas Holdings Limited (17.65%).
The payment issue gained traction after Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, publicly urged Ghana’s President to ensure prompt payments for gas deliveries.
“Ekpo also called on the Ghanaian leader to ensure that relevant agencies in his country are prompt in their financial obligations for gas supplies,” the statement said. “He appealed to President Mahama to direct relevant authorities to expedite action on the proposed fiscal amendments to the WAGP Act to align with evolving operational realities and maintain regional harmony as enshrined in the Treaty.”
The comments triggered questions around whether Ghana’s National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its power distribution companies were meeting payment deadlines.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from N-Gas were unsuccessful. The company’s Managing Director, Aliyu Aminu, declined to comment when reached.
In February, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, acknowledged that the government was preparing to negotiate with N-Gas to settle part of the $75 million debt. He said the company had issued a formal notice warning of a potential supply suspension.
“The government is focusing on resolving the problem. We will do everything possible to ensure that after the pipeline is cleaned, the flow of gas will resume to keep the lights on, because the health and growth of the economy depend on access to stable energy,” Jinapor said.
