General News of Monday, 6 August 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

‘He did it alone right’? – P.R.O defends Energy minister after sacking

Public relations manager for the Energy ministry, Nana Damoah Public relations manager for the Energy ministry, Nana Damoah

Public relations manager (PRO) for the Energy ministry, Nana Damoah has made ‘suggestive’ comments on social media which points out that his boss, Boakye Agyarko is not entirely to blame for issues surrounding the controversial Ameri deal as there are other people involved.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo sacked the Energy minister after he reviewed the power purchase deal which critics say "makes no sense".

As it stands, people are calling for the sack of all those involved in the deal including those at the presidency who signed the executive order on behalf of the president.

In relation to that, Nana Damoah said government spokesperson on Governance and Legal Affairs, Herbert Krapa has sent him series of text messages threatening him for involving Gabby Otchere Darko in the controversial deal.

Nana Damoah few minutes after the Energy minister was relieved of his post took to Facebook and wrote;

“It’s time for the emails. Let’s play. He is to blame abi? He did it alone right? Ok?”.

Read his full post below



Government’s involvement in the Ameri deal saga

The deal was presented to Parliament last week under a certificate of urgency, but the House deferred its deliberation on the contract due to concerns over the cost and value.

Government reportedly withdrew the deal following series of public uproar.

The controversial power deal

In the run-up to the 2016 elections, the NPP campaigned on a promise to revise the $510 million AMERI deal, championed by former President John Mahama in 2015, because the cost was unreasonably high and the arrangement riddled with corruption.

As such, it was thought that, barring outright cancellation, any revision of the existing agreement would necessarily lead to a reduction in the contract sum and the cost of power within the five-year tenure.

President Akufo-Addo’s executive order came amid the growing number of groups and individuals who had slammed the government over the re-negotiated AMERI deal.

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) called on Parliament to reject the renegotiated deal, saying the new deal will cost the country more after the 15 year period.

The Institute of Energy Security (IES) also said the country risked paying more when the deal is agreed upon, in its current form.