Govt paid Ghc15m for AMERI civil works

ClassFMonline.com has unearthed that the Government of Ghana did pay GHS15,144,563.85 for civil works done at Aboadze in the Western Region in connection with the 250MW AMERI plants.

It is captured on page 34, in the 2015 Annual Report on the petroleum funds, submitted to Parliament by Finance Minister Seth Terkper that the Government of Ghana paid GHS15,144,563.85 in connection with the project.

Under ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, the report said: “Payment for the interim payment – civil works under 250MW AMERI emergency power project at Aboadze in the Western Region…15,144,563.85.” Ghana’s Power Ministry recently denied a publication by a Norwegian newspaper which alleged that rather than buying the 10 turbines for $220 million, the Government of Ghana went into a Build Operate Own and Transfer (BOOT) deal of $510 million.

A statement from the Ministry dated December 14, 2015 and signed by Dr Kwabena Donkor said: “It must also be explained that the quoted price of $220 million in the Norwegian story for outright purchase of similar turbines is exclusive of all other costs such as auxiliaries, balance of plant, civil works, sub-station, installation of equipment, cost of financing, operation and maintenance etc.”

“Under the agreement with AMERI Energy, the cost of all these auxiliary works is being borne by AMERI Energy. From the foregoing, it is false to claim that the Government of Ghana signed a $510 million agreement for the plant, when it should have been $220 million,” the statement added.

ClassFMonline.com’s investigations have, however, revealed that GHS15,144,563.85 was paid for civil works, despite the Ministry’s statement which said AMERI, per the agreement, was supposed to bear such cost in addition to other auxiliaries.