The Minority members of Parliament are demanding an express apology from the president Akufo-Addo for what they describe as ‘unwarranted attacks’ on John Mahama in the run-up to 2016 general elections over the controversial AMERI power deal.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) while in opposition accused John Mahama government of fraud over the $510 million AMERI agreement.
The NDC government signed the deal to secure some emergency power barges to increase generation to end power challenges that had resulted in incessant power cuts and power rationing.
The party vowed to review or abrogate the agreement if it wins power, but that has not be done after the NPP took office.
A later information from the Attorney General’s department also said John Mahama did not err in signing the agreement because it was “valid.”
According to the Minority NDC, the report from the Attorney General’s department vindicates John Mahama and “proved that Former President Mahama and his government took a very good decision in the wake of the energy challenges.”
Read the full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT ON THE POSITION OF THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ON AMERI ENERGY AGREEMENT
Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
The NDC Minority in Parliament welcomes the legal position by the Minister for Justice and Attorney General on the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement between the Government of Ghana and Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group LLC [AMERI ENERGY]. This legal position has come to vindicate the position of the NDC; the erstwhile Mahama led administration and the NDC Minority in Parliament that the contract (agreement) was/is clean, and for that matter, there is no ground for suspension or abrogation of the contract.
It would be recalled that the NPP in opposition rode on the back of deceit, lies and propaganda to hoodwink the unsuspecting Ghanaian into believing that the erstwhile Mahama led administration engaged in a fraudulent transaction in respect of the AMERI agreement. They made several promises to abrogate the contract when given the mandate because according to them, the AMERI deal was full of gross misrepresentation, fraudulent and there was no value for money.
It is important to note that, after assuming office in February 2017, a 17 member committee was set up by the Minister of Energy to investigate the agreement. Over a year today, the Minister has not officially accepted the report and published same for Ghanaians to apprise themselves with the findings of the committee.
Furtherance to this, Hon K.T Hammond filed an urgent motion requesting Parliament to rescind the decision it gave in approving the agreement between the Government of Ghana and AMERI ENERGY on the grounds of gross misrepresentation.
The Minority boycotted the Committee’s proceeding on the grounds that the referral from the Right Honourable Speaker did not follow Parliamentary rules and practice. As contained in the standing orders of Parliament, a motion moved and seconded to has to be debated and a decision arrived at by the House before any referral could be made to a committee.
Source: citinewsroom
