The Minority members of Parliament are demanding an express apology from the president Akufo-Addo for what they describe as ‘unwarranted attacks’ on John Mahama in the run-up to 2016 general elections over the controversial AMERI power deal.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Syh0CEudve6tWmsgkOtx8TLUKoQmodKo”]The New Patriotic Party (NPP) while in opposition accused John Mahama government of fraud over the $510 million AMERI agreement.
The NDC government signed the deal to secure some emergency power barges to increase generation to end power challenges that had resulted in incessant power cuts and power rationing.
The party vowed to review or abrogate the agreement if it wins power, but that has not be done after the NPP took office.
A later information from the Attorney General’s department also said John Mahama did not err in signing the agreement because it was “valid.”
According to the Minority NDC, the report from the Attorney General’s department vindicates John Mahama and “proved that Former President Mahama and his government took a very good decision in the wake of the energy challenges.”
Read the full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT ON THE POSITION OF THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ON AMERI ENERGY AGREEMENT
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
The NDC Minority in Parliament welcomes the legal position by the Minister for Justice and Attorney General on the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement between the Government of Ghana and Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group LLC [AMERI ENERGY]. This legal position has come to vindicate the position of the NDC; the erstwhile Mahama led administration and the NDC Minority in Parliament that the contract (agreement) was/is clean, and for that matter, there is no ground for suspension or abrogation of the contract.
It would be recalled that the NPP in opposition rode on the back of deceit, lies and propaganda to hoodwink the unsuspecting Ghanaian into believing that the erstwhile Mahama led administration engaged in a fraudulent transaction in respect of the AMERI agreement. They made several promises to abrogate the contract when given the mandate because according to them, the AMERI deal was full of gross misrepresentation, fraudulent and there was no value for money.
It is important to note that, after assuming office in February 2017, a 17 member committee was set up by the Minister of Energy to investigate the agreement. Over a year today, the Minister has not officially accepted the report and published same for Ghanaians to apprise themselves with the findings of the committee.
Furtherance to this, Hon K.T Hammond filed an urgent motion requesting Parliament to rescind the decision it gave in approving the agreement between the Government of Ghana and AMERI ENERGY on the grounds of gross misrepresentation.
The Minority boycotted the Committee’s proceeding on the grounds that the referral from the Right Honourable Speaker did not follow Parliamentary rules and practice. As contained in the standing orders of Parliament, a motion moved and seconded to has to be debated and a decision arrived at by the House before any referral could be made to a committee.
It is almost ten months since this motion was referred to the Committee on Mines and Energy, the people of Ghana are patiently waiting for the outcome of the committee’s investigation.
With all these developments and inconsistencies displayed by the Nana Addo/Bawumia government through the Minister of Energy, it came as no surprise to the NDC Minority in Parliament that the Attorney General’s Department has cleared AMERI Energy and the erstwhile Mahama administration of any wrongdoing in respect of the agreement.
In conclusion, the NDC Minority in Parliament is calling on the government of Nana Addo and Bawumia to swallow its pride and apologize to Former President Mahama and the NDC for the unwarranted attacks they received from the NPP in the run-up to 2016 general elections. The must also apologize to Ghanaians for the deceit they perpetuated against them to solicit their voters.
The legal advice from the Minister of Justice and Attorney General has once again proved that Former President Mahama and his government took a very good decision in the wake of the energy challenges by entering into the BOOT agreement with AMERI Energy which was scheduled for 5 years after which the assets will be taken over by the Government of Ghana.
HON. ADAM MUTAWAKILU (MP)
(RANKING MEMBER, MINES &ENERGY COMMITTEE)
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana