The battle between the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association and the Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who supervises all the energy sector agencies, is not likely to end anytime soon if President Akufo-Addo fails to act.
In an attempt to absorb the West African nation’s Energy Minister of the blame for allegedly approving a deal for a private firm, Genser Energy, to construct a gas processing plant to compete with state-owned Ghana National Gas Company, the Energy Ministry, in a press statement issued by the Communications & Public Affairs Unit, dogged the issues raised by the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association and rather accused the CEO of Ghana Gas of misleading the workers.
The statement claimed that the Minister had not signed any contract with Genser Energy noting that “the only contract signed with Genser on record is by Ghana National Gas Company and GNPC.
“The contract between GENSER & GNGC predates the Minister’s tenure at the Ministry of Energy and was signed on behalf of the GNGC by Dr Ben Asante, its CEO and the Ministry duly informed,” the Ministry said.
However, the response of the Ministry appears to be introducing an issue that is not the subject matter of the statement by the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association.
While the Ministry’s response was on the Gas Sale agreement signed by GNGC and GNPC with Genser Energy, the Senior Staff Association of Ghana was rather talking about the Minister approving a deal for Genser Energy to construct a new gas processing plant to compete with Ghana Gas.
In a statement with the heading: ‘Rejoinder-Re: Overturn Napo’s Approval of Genser Deal—Ghana Gas Workers Urge Akufo-Addo’, it said the attention of the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association (GGSSA) has been drawn to a rather surreptitious response to our press release with a wrong subject title.
Referring to their earlier press release, the Association said, “Nowhere did we accuse the Ministry of Energy of signing any contract between Ghana Gas and Genser, but rather, as the head of supervising authority, approved a deal that puts the nation’s energy security primary asset (which is a national security issue) to 100 per cent control of the private entity, without recourse to industry players consultation, let alone CSO and Parliament.
“We challenge the Ministry of Energy to publish the report to the Presidency on this matter which is of public interest, and also indicate when Parliament will complete the investigation referenced,’’ the Association demanded.
They called on Parliament to set up an Expert Advisory Committee including IMANI Africa, ACEP and the Utility agencies to vet their position on the matter.
Stating the innocence of Dr. Benjamin Asante, the Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association asserted that “GGSSA is an independent body from the Board and the Management of Ghana Gas.”
According to the Association, “Our press release was not directed from the CEO neither was it influenced by the CEO. The SSA of Ghana Gas humbly wants the Ministry of Energy to stick to the issues raised. We entreat the general public and the media particularly to take this matter seriously, just like ‘Dumsor’, for the implications are far worse.”
The Association said it is ever ready to have a civil discussion to ensure the country’s primary energy asset is not compromised.
“We are not against private entity engagement, but to hand over a juicy primary asset, 100 per cent to the private entity is too much of sovereign risk and operational risk to the country and Utility agencies,’’ they said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
