The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Ghana (COPEC Ghana) wants President Akufo-Addo to sack the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko following the widely circulated reports that he[President] was misled into signing the controversial Ameri Novation Agreement.
A statement issued by the Chamber and signed by the Head of Research, Pricing and Monitoring, Sampson Addae said:”The defence by the Energy Ministry and its communicators for the Ameri Novation Agreement leaves well-meaning Ghanaians shocked as more fundamental questions spring forth and beg for answers.
COPEC is thus questioning whether the President couldn’t have been misled over several scandalous issues that he[President] acted on in the past in that sector.
“Could it also be said that the president was also misled into believing the lies on contaminated fuel saga when the evidence was clear? Again, could it also be said that the president was also misled into believing the 1.8 million barrels of crude which the country lost about $5.6 million when it was sold?Was the president misled to sack the board of Ghana cylinder manufacturing company (GCMC) against the CEO? COPEC questioned in its statement.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently approved the new deal pending parliamentary approval.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary to the president, Nana Asante Bediatuo, dated 25 July 2018, stated that: “The President of the Republic of Ghana has granted executive approval for the Novation and Amendment Agreement dated July 20, 2018 between (i) the Government of the Republic of Ghana represented by the Minister of Energy (or his authorised representative), (ii) Volta River Authority (VRA), (iii) Africa and Middle East Resource Investment Group (AMERI ENERGY), (iv) Ameri Energy Power Equipment Trading LLC (AMERI EQUIPMENT), (v) Power Projects Sanayi Insaat Ticanet Limited Sirketi (PPR), and (vi) Mytilineos International Trading Company AG (Mytilineos), for operations and maintenance of the existing 250MW AMERI Thermal Plant at Aboadzi, for a period of 15 years.”
However, hitherto the annulment, the renegotiated deal, which has subsequently been cancelled by the president, was expected to be approved by parliament when the House resumes from recess.
Below is the full statement
Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana
5/08/18
Mr President, sack the Energy Minister.
The defence by the Energy Ministry and its communicators for the Ameri Novation Agreement leaves well-meaning Ghanaians shocked as more fundamental questions spring forth and beg for answers.
Pertinent among this mind-boggling questions begging for answers are as follows:
1. Why will any individual prepare a novation amendment agreement to buy out Ameri Energy and hand it to a third party?
2. What prompted the said individual to prepare such document and present it to the president?
3. Has the said individual ever succeeded in presenting a scandalised document to the president and it went through?
4. How did the said individual arrive at choosing Mytilineos International Trading Company and not any other company?
5. Why has the country defaulted in outstanding payment of 82,660,560.00 of which Ameri is ready to take a legal action against the state?
6. Could it also be said that the president was also misled into believing the lies on contaminated fuel saga when the evidence was clear?
7. Again, could it also be said that the president was also misled into believing the 1.8 million barrels of crude which the country lost about $5.6 million when it was sold?
8. Was the president misled to sack the board of Ghana cylinder manufacturing company (GCMC) against the CEO?
The said individual can continue to mislead the president but cannot mislead COPEC to do their corrupt activities. We will also fight for the consumers by ensuring value for money auditing and expose corrupt officials.
We therefore call upon the president to urgently fire or sack the Energy minister and its communicators and prosecute them.
Signed
Sampson Addae
(Research, pricing and monitoring)
