NPP Fires NDC – Over $17Bn Dubious Energy Deals

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has served notice it will no longer tolerate diversionary tactics deployed by members of the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cover up their dubiousdealings in the Energy sector, totaling over $17 billion.

Issuing the warning yesterday, government said there is orchestrated attempt by former President John Dramani Mahama and his appointees to downplay the effort of the Akufo-Addo administration to clean up the mess they created.

Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on Monday, President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that his administration had ended the erratic power situation, which earned the name “dumsor,” inherited from the previous NDC government.

He said the Mahama-led NDC administration signed numerous shady contracts which had to be reviewed to reduce cost to the state.

President Akufo-Addo noted that a “review of 24 power purchase agreements, which has led to the termination of 11 power deals and the rescheduling of eight others, has enabled us to save the government treasury about $7 billion in excess capacity charges over a 13-year contract period.”

He added that his administration ensured a reduction in electricity tariffs, with domestic consumers enjoying reductions in rates of up to 17.5 per cent, and a 30 per cent for domestic and industry to stimulate industrial activity.

However, former President Mahama and his appointees, particularly former Deputy Minister for Power, John Jinapor has refuted the President’s assertions, claiming the previous administration must be given credit in the energy sector.

In a sharp response to Mr. Mahama and his appointees, the Head of Communications and Public Affairs at the Ministry of Energy, Nana Damoah warned government will not tolerate diversionary tactics by the previous administration.

A statement he issued yesterday said “We have noted with concern the deliberate and orchestrated attempt by Ex. President John Mahama and his appointees, led by the John Jinapor to undermine and corrupt the sterling achievements of President Akuffo Addo and his administration, particularly in the energy sector.

“It is obvious that John Mahama and his appointees ,realizing that the achievements of the Akufo-Addo administration, after just 22 months have dwarfed the more than 8 years of their administration, are now only attempting to raise red herrings and tangentials.

“We serve notice that we will no longer allow propaganda to continue.

“It is interesting that after signing over 26 thermal Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) which would have resulted in capacity charges of over $17.2 billion over the agreements’ period , Mr. Jinapor ignores that huge elephant in the room and is seeking to raise his own set of issues.

“Mr. Jinapor should explain to the people of Ghana the rationale for signing all the take-or-pay PPA’s during his tenure at the Ministry of Energy.”

He said Mr. Jinapor played very critical roles in the signing of these numerous and expensive PPA’s which ultimately led to astronomical increases in electricity tariffs.

“The good people of Ghana are demanding explanations for such gross incompetence displayed by John Jinapor during the Mahama administration.

“The careless abandon with which the John Mahama administration failed to put in place the necessary measures to utilize ENI gas has not been forgotten by the people of Ghana,” Mr. Damoah bemoaned.

According to him, the competent approach with which the Akufo-Addo government is silently managing the huge mess left by the likes of John Jinapor is noteworthy.

The Head of Communication at the Ministry of Energy said President Akufo-Addo minced no words when he stated that “Too much time, energy and resources were spent in the past, in my view, without a deliberate, conscious assessment of their impact on jobs and whether or not we were spending wisely to improve the lives of the people, communities and businesses.”

Mr. Damoah said it is noteworthy that the President on the same occasion stated that “I was not elected by the overwhelming majority of the Ghanaian people to complain, I was elected to get things done”.

He said as the Akufo-Addo administration is silently fixing the huge mess, the people of Ghana will appreciate it if Mr. Jinapor and his likes stop trying to confuse the public.

“The good people of Ghana are disgusted by outbursts of persons like John Jinapor, seeking to divert attention from the national development agenda.

“We have not found it worthy to respond to any of the allegations he has raised because the people of Ghana know such statements for what they are – unnecessary diversions. In the words of Shakespeare, such are full of ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing,’” he concluded.

Source: The Custodian