A total of 25 astroturf projects initiated by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Foundation have faced delays since 2019, with only 20 completed and 5 remaining unfinished, officials have disclosed.
The status of the projects came under parliamentary scrutiny on March 24, 2026, when representatives of the GNPC Foundation appeared before Parliament’s Assurance Committee alongside the Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor.
During the proceedings, GNPC Foundation official confirmed that despite sustained efforts, five of the astroturf facilities are yet to be finalized. “We have about 25 astroturfs. Currently, we have about five that are yet to be completed. And as we speak, we have made frantic efforts to make sure that these ones are also completed,” the official stated.
Addressing the root cause of the delays, the official noted that most of the outstanding projects were initiated in 2019 and had been awarded without the requisite budgetary approvals. “Most of these ones commenced in 2019. Yes, as the Honourable noted, for most of them we have awarded without budgetary approval or consideration.
And so we are trying to regularise that and proceed,” the official added.
Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, further clarified that the completion of the projects is contingent upon securing adequate funding through Parliament’s approval of the GNPC budget.
He explained that the GNPC Foundation’s allocation is determined within the broader approval of the corporation’s work programme.
“The truth is that they don’t have the money. And it’s this house that approves the GNPC budget. And in approving the GNPC budget, you make allocation to GNPC Foundation. So if this house, in approving GNPC’s budget, which is the work program, approves a very limited amount for the foundation, the basic truth is that they cannot complete these projects,” the Minister stated.
He added that the outstanding contracts could be completed if they receive the necessary financial backing.