Pressure group Arise Ghana has warned the Energy Ministry and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to seek parliamentary approval as it vows to take legal action against government gold for oil policy.
Report reveals that the government bought 400,000 metric tons first consignment with cash instead of gold as speculated.
Speaking to the media lead convener of the pressure group, Mensah Thompson called on the government to do the needful on the Gold for Oil Policy.
“To the minister of energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the people at NPA, the people at BOG and all the people who are leading this arrangement that this agreement has not received parliamentary approval. And so, anything they do in the name of the people of Ghana is null and void.
“And that in future, any of them or all of them will be subject to criminal prosecution for causing financial loss to the state. Any debt that will be incurred by the reckless action of these players in the gold for oil agreement will be prosecuted and the monies will be retrieved from their own pockets”.
Background
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia assured Ghanaians that the Gold for Oil policy will make fuel cheaper in the country.
Ghana received its first cargo of 400,000 metric tons under the gold for oil policy. The delivery was to test the framework if everything that has been put in place will work.
However ranking member of the mines and energy committee in parliament, John Jinapor, told Naa Dedei Tettey on the Morning Starr that the Deputy Minister for Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer had disclosed on a panel that the first consignment of oil was purchased with the cash from the bank of Ghana.
The Minority in Parliament is calling for the suspension of the programme until full disclosure and consultation with stakeholders are done.
But, , Andrew Egyapa Mercer says the government has constituted “the Ministry of Energy, the Vice President’s office, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Bank of Ghana and the Chamber of Bulk Oil distributors, the private sector are members of a committee that was put together to see how we can get constant flow of petroleum products.
“So there are no shortages at any point as it is being experienced in some other countries including Nigeria, our neighbors today. So, the Gold for Oil Program was introduced to exchange gold for oil on the international trade market.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Bernice Mensah
