A Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee of Ghana’s Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu is incensed by what could be described as a deliberate attempt by the Minister for Finance to hijack and control the West African nation’s Energy Ministry despite being headed by John-Peter Amewu.
The outspoken Damongo legislator, who doubles as the spokesperson for the Minority on Energy issues, is worried that the Finance Minister is now having dealings with players in the industry instead of the Energy Minister John-Peter Amewu.
He claimed that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and other stakeholders have been ordered to report directly to Mr Ofori-Atta instead of the Energy Minister.
Adams Mutawakilu, who described the development as unhealthy, says he is thinking of dragging the two Ministers before the Energy Committee and, to among others, answer questions on the increasing debt at the sector.
“I have discussed the matter with the Chairman [of the Energy Committee] and I think that we will invite the Minister for Energy. The Minister for Finance has now hijacked the work of the Minister for Energy, even Independent Power Producers now report to the Minister for Finance,” Mutawakilu said on Accra based Citi FM.
He further added: “They’ve rendered the Minister for Energy useless. We will summon the Minister for Energy first and where necessary, we will bring the Minister of Finance.”
Commenting on the recent strike action by workers of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO), Mr Mutawakilu explained that the Energy Minister must brief them on steps being taken to settle the hefty debt.
“The morale of staff is not sound because of frustrations. They will not be able to do their best to ensure the lights are on and therefore President Nana Akufo-Addo should not take us back to dumsor…he should resolve all the challenges facing GRIDCo, extended to ECG and NEDCo with immediate effect,” he told the news portal.
The strike action by GRIDCO span from huge accumulated debts by state institutions including ECG and NEDCO—both power distributions’ platforms who owe about GHc607 million and GHc 177 million respectively.
The power producer further alleged that two other companies-VALCO and PDS-owe a total amount of $32million and GHc94 million respectively.
Staff of GRIDCo planned to picket offices of the ECG and the Finance Ministry to demand their money after seven days.
Source: www.energynewsafrica.com