One of the leading campaigners against the AMERI Novation and Amendment Bill, Institute for Energy Security (IES) is calling on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to also consider relieving the deputy energy ministers of their duties.
President Akufo-Addo, Monday, relieved the energy minister, Boakye Agyarko, of his duties and appointed Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Peter Amewu, to temporary takeover his office.
Even though the statement from the presidency announcing the sacking of the minister did not give any reason, it is widely speculated the action was occasioned by his involvement in the AMERI Novation and Amendment Bill, which has generated a lot of controversy.
The said renegotiated deal sought to alter the original $510 million deal entered into by the Government of Ghana under the erstwhile NDC administration.
It however turned out the renegotiated deal as proposed by the energy ministry is worse than the original deal.
In the ensuing controversy, reports emerged suggesting the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, was “misled” into giving an executive approval to the deal for which reason the deal is likely to be recalled from parliament.
Consequently, government came under pressure to let heads roll at the energy ministry to which the energy minister fell victim.
Read: Akufo-Addo fires Energy Minister
But IES does not seem to be satisfied with the minister alone being sacked.
Commending the President for cracking the whip, the institute observed Mr. Agyarko could not have pulled through what has been widely been described as a “worse deal” all by himself.
“It is common knowledge that the Energy Minister, Mr. Boakye Agyarko doesn’t work alone. The Honorable Minister, in addition to his three deputies, worked with a 7-member committee comprised of representatives from the PURC, Ministry of Finance, VRA and the Attorney-General who recommended the Novation Amendment Agreement to the Minister who in turn forwarded same to the President.
“IES calls on the President 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). IES will be very shocked if any of these persons is 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”
By 3news.com|Ghana
The post New Ameri deal: Sack deputy Energy Ministers too – IES to Akufo-Addo appeared first on 3newsgh.
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