Deputy Information and Media Relations Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu says former President John Kufuor’s government sold the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s drillship in 2001, as though it was “tomatoes being sold in the open market”.

Kwakye Ofosu said on Wednesday that the manner in which the Discoverer 511 was sold to, apparently, defray a US$19.5million judgment debt allegedly awarded by a court against the GNPC, was tantamount to “chop bar” governance.

About US$1million of the drillship’s proceeds was used to pay for legal services concerning its sale.

However, US$3.5 million is yet to be traced. The missing amount has created a row between the current government and former government officials who served in the Kufuor administration.

It was revealed on Wednesday, by the acting Head of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, Grace Adzroe, at the Judgment Debt Commission hearing that the Bank account for the transaction had been traced at the Ghana International Bank, London with the last 1,008 pounds in it transferred into a separate account in the same Bank in December.

Kwakye Ofosu told Accra-based Asempa FM that the circumstances surrounding the sale of the drillship grossly left much to be desired.

Key amongst the former officials who have been accused of wrong doing and discrepancies in the sale of the drillship are former Energy Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and his Deputy, K.T. Hammond as well as former Attorney General Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr. Hammond clarified that the sale of the ship was done cleanly and transparently.