Don’t Tolerate 3 deputies at the Energy Ministry – IES tells Gov’t

Barely 24 hours after energy minister, Boakye Agyarko was relieved on his post; pressure is mounting on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack all the three Deputy Ministers of Energy, namely; Dr Mohammed Amin Adam Anta (in charge of Petroleum), Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo (in charge of Power), and Hon. Joseph Cudjoe (in charge of Finance and Infrastructure).

Communication Specialist at the Ministry, Nana Kofi Oppong Damoah has resigned from his post over a controversially ‘renegotiated’ Ameri deal.

The said renegotiated deal sought to alter the original $510 million deal entered into by the Government of Ghana under the erstwhile NDC administration.

Nana Damoah who was vocal in defending the deal that received total rejection from the ordinary people through to energy experts, threatened Monday evening to release emails to ostensibly demonstrate no wrongdoing on the part of Mr Agyarko or there were others involved in the deal.

Meanwhile, Institute for Energy Security (IES) has called on the President, to also consider relieving the deputy energy ministers of their duties.

This was contained in a statement from the Institute.

“IES will be very shocked if any of these persons are given the opportunity to become the substantive Minister of Energy. We also ask that the Committee should not be left off the hook”, a statement issued on Tuesday, August 7 reads in part.

IES is also calling on the President to in the interest of transparency and good governance address the bizarre circumstances which led to the deal being approved by the president before going to parliament.

Additionally, the institute wants the president to take a second look at the people who surround him and allegations of family interference in energy sector deals.

“IES also calls on President Akufo-Addo to direct his attention to his close confidants who advised him to issue the Executive Order. We further implore the president to take cognizance of the numerous allegations of interference made against his family and close allies when it comes to energy agreements and negotiations in the country”