Okaikoi Central MP Claims Ghana Near Settled $150m Tullow Tax Dispute Before Ruling
Patrick Boamah alleges settlement talks reached $150m before arbitration halted by Finance Ministry lawyers.
Okaikwei Central MP Patrick Boamah claims Ghana was days away from resolving two tax disputes with Tullow Ghana Limited for approximately $150 million prior to a recent arbitral judgment favouring the state. He states the settlement proposal emerged after the NDC administration took office in July 2025, referencing discussions between Tullow, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Finance. The proposed Terms of Settlement would have seen Ghana accept a lump sum to close both tax claims dragging on since 2023, he alleges.
According to documents cited by the MP, internal Finance Ministry lawyers abruptly intervened, blocking then-Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson from signing the agreement. This intervention, Boamah wrote on Facebook, stalled until legal obstacles could be resolved, though he praised the civil servants involved. While Tullow’s 2025 annual report acknowledges two outstanding tax assessments under international arbitration since 2023, the company confirms ongoing talks with Ghanaian authorities toward a final settlement. No concrete agreement materialised after the halted discussions.
The MP’s claims reignite public debate over how Ghana manages high-stakes fiscal disputes with multinational corporations. Government officials have not publicly addressed the specific allegations about settlement proximity or Ministry resistance. However, legal analysts note that arbitration outcomes often influence rather than conclude negotiations between states and foreign investors.
With the arbitral ruling now settled in Ghana’s favour, attention turns to whether the state will revisit possible settlements for similar cases. Parliament may scrutinise any renewed overtures from firms engaged in prolonged tax disagreements.
