Parliament has once again declined to approve the 2016 program of activities for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) after members failed to reach a consensus over the subject matter.
The House was expected to approve the report of the Mines and Energy Committee on the programs of activities of the corporation but concerns raised by the Members, especially, those on the Minority side compelled the First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ebo Barton-Odro who presided over the business to defer it to a later date.
The directive was to enable the Minister for Petroleum to properly brief the House over the concerns raised by Members, especially, the Minority MPs.
The Minority MPs have consistently raised concerns about the activities of the GNPC and their core mandate as well as how they spend their funds but have never received answers from the sector Minister.
MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markins argued that the GNPC has committed an amount of US$100million with the Stanbic Bank as guarantee for the Karpower barge without the approval of Parliament, insisting that the oil exploration firm has veered off its mandate.
But the Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee and MP for Madina, Alhaji Amadu Sorogho explained that anything that has to do with development and exploration of oil and gas is part of the core mandate of GNPC.
He told the House that the US$100 million Karpower guarantee was part of activities approved in 2015.
MP for Atwima-Mponua, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, contributing to the debate wondered why the GNPC gave US$50 million to the government without stating what the money was meant for.
That aside, another US$47million belonging to the Corporation has been locked up with the Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) without any explanation to the House, stressing that “GNPC is becoming a monster”.
The MP for Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem, Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur discussing the matter called for further explanation on a proposed new office building for the GNPC estimated at GH₵115.42 million.
According to him, GNPC in 2013 spent about a million dollars on design of the new office building but has since failed to complete the project.
MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, also commenting on the issue said if GNPC had conducted itself well in the past, it could have been taken off government’s subvention and as well contribute significantly to the national budget.
In his view, the oil exploration firm has become lawless institution and therefore urged the House to reject their 2016 program of activities as captured in the Committee’s report.
He also faulted the Committee for failing to tell the House about the specifics of the GH₵69.73million the Corporation is seeking for the construction of a research and technology centre.
Minister of Petroleum, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, responding to the some of the concerns raised by the Minority MP told the House that the core mandate of GNPC are clearly laid out in the PNDC law 64; hence whatever the Corporation is doing today is rightly within its mandate.
Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, also contributing to the discussion put up a strong defense for the GNPC, noting that the Corporation is making significant contribution to national development and thus would be appreciated in the near future.
Mr. Iddrisu added that the US$50 million given to government by the Corporation was to be used to support infrastructural development for power generation, adding that the “Minority may not appreciate GNPC’s contributions today but will do in the future”.
