Pressure is mounting on President Nana Akufo-Addo to sack the Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko after the Senior Staff Association of the Volta River Authority (VRA) joined calls for the Minister’s removal over the controversial AMERI novation and amendment deal.
According to the VRA staff, claims by the Energy Ministry that government had saved the country over 400 million Ghana cedis in the new deal were complete lies.
Their call comes after the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC) called on the President to immediately sack the Energy Minister.
The novation and amendment agreement, seeking to buy out the $510million deal Ameri Energy has with the government and be handed over to a third party Mytilineos for 15 years, received an executive approval from President Akufo-Addo on July 31 after parliament refused to ratify it.
Under the new agreement, the new company, Mytilineos International Trading Company, will take over the management of the AMERI power plant for 15 years.
The new company has offered to pay AMERI an amount of $52,160,560, with the government paying the remaining $39 million to the Dubai-based AMERI Energy to wash its hands off the deal entirely.
Reports claim that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was misled by the Energy Minister into approving the deal by Executive order a claim the ministry has dismissed.
Chairman of the senior Staff Association Cephas Duse addressed the media Monday said the Mr. Agyarko has exhibited financial recklessness and must be given the boot from office or resign.
“We think that by the current deal, the minister has exhibited financial recklessness with intent to assist a foreign company to milk the state. We therefore call on him resign honourably and save the nation and the government further disgrace and embarrassment.
“We plead with the President to sack him if he fails to resign.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM