Ghana: Gov’t To Release PDS Findings In The Next ‘Few Days’ –Energy Minister

Ghana’s Minister for Energy John-Peter Amewu, says government’s findings on the controversial Power Distribution Service (PDS) deal will be made public in few days’ time.

“The suspension is in place. Government is taking measures to address the problem and the issue that led to the suspension and we are taking our time to examine every issue that led to the suspension then we can take a firm decision.”

“You will remember that the suspension has been extended…We will come out clearly and I am sure that within the next few days you will be hearing the government’s position,” Mr. Amewu revealed.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, the government announced the suspension of the concession agreement and explained that the decision followed the “detection of fundamental and material breaches” on the part of PDS.

Two teams were subsequently tasked to probe allegations of contractual breaches between government and PDS.

The teams were sent to Qatar and the United States for the probe and had since presented their report to government.

FTI Consulting, a United States-based consulting firm commissioned by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to investigate whether or not PDS Ltd duly won the contract to manage the assets of the ECG, also confirmed that insurance guarantees were, indeed, paid to back the PDS’ takeover of the assets and operations of the ECG.

A 32-page report submitted by FTI Consulting to MiDA, dated September 3, 2019 and signed by Pat Pericak and David Okhumal, both officials of the consulting firm, said: “We have not seen any documents that would suggest that, as of March 1, 2019, PDS, Cal Bank, Donewell and/or personnel from MiDA should have questioned the validity of the payment securities.”

“We further note that officials from Al Koot confirmed to K&L Gates, a law firm in Qatar, that the stamp applied on the Acknowledgement and Agreement page of the Payment Securities is that of Al Koot. They further confirmed that the signatures are those of Al Nouri and Fadi Danghouth, who are employees of Al Koot,” the report disclosed in response to claims by Al Koot that the staff who signed the insurance guarantee did not have the authority to do so.