Blame Finance Ministry For PDS Debacle – Former Minister

Former Power Minister under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress administration, Dr Kwabena Donkor has blamed the Finance Ministry for the Power Distribution Services’ (PDS) concession agreement debacle.

“The first person that we have to hold responsible for this debacle is the Minister of Finance, the compact was signed by the Minister of Finance not the Minister of Energy.

“The Minister of Energy has sectorial oversight over the Electricity Company of Ghana and others. MiDA falls under the office of the President,” he said.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Citi TV, the former Minister stressed that it was the Finance Minister’s signature which finalised the deal and he needs to be blamed.

“Those who are culpable are the Finance Minister, who signed the whole compact, not necessarily this Finance Minister, the Energy Minister [his office] and then the Attorney General. The Attorney General is the government’s chief legal advisor,” he stressed.

Dr Donkor’s comment followed a decision by the government to suspend the PDS concession agreement for distribution of power in Ghana, following what it said was the discovery of “fundamental and material breaches of PDS’ obligation in the provision of Payment Securities.”