General News of Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Source: citinewsroom.com
2019-10-23
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The government has debunked assertions that it made up allegations of fraud as a basis to cancel its concession agreement with the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal to inure to its own benefit.
Some critics had alleged that fraud claims against PDS were made up to form the basis to terminate the deal to allow some individuals in government to benefit from the deal.
But addressing the media to announce formally processes to abrogate the contract, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the motive of government in the concession has rather been to ensure efficiency and not create loot and share.
“No effort to get Ghana a good deal has been spared. The government has not been up to any machinations. The intent has been to ensure efficiency in the ECG turnaround program and the fulfillment of a broader compact all along. Is there anything wrong with switching from 80-20 percent to 51-49 percent? No!”
“The government holds the view that in transactions of this nature, Ghana and Ghanaians should be given an opportunity to get a stake as much as it is possible. Is there something wrong with switching from bank guarantee to as supposed to insurance guarantee? There was nothing wrong with this change. It was the only feasible path at that stage as the tariff methodology had not been made available as at that time”, he added.
