The Institute for Energy Security (IES) is calling on President Akufo-Addo to sack all three Deputy Ministers of Energy following the removal of the sector minister, Boakye Agyarko on Monday.
According to the IES, the deputies, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam Anta, William Owuraku Aidoo and Joseph Cudjoe also worked with Mr. Agyarko on the said AMERI novation deal that cost Mr. Agyarko his job.
In a statement copied to citinewsroom.com, IES said “Boakye Agyarko doesn’t work alone.â€
Read: My side of the story will come out – Boakye Agyarko
“It is common knowledge that the Energy Minister, Mr. Boakye Agyarko doesn’t work alone. The Honorable Minister, in addition to his three deputies, worked with a 7-member committee comprised of representatives from the PURC, Ministry of Finance, VRA and the Attorney-General who recommended the Novation Amendment Agreement to the Minister who in turn forwarded same to the President,†it said.
“IES calls on the President to sack all the three Deputy Ministers of Energy, namely; Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam Anta (in charge of Petroleum), Hon. William Owuraku Aidoo (in charge of Power), and Hon. Joseph Cudjoe (in charge of Finance and Infrastructure). IES will be very shocked if any of these persons is given the opportunity to become the substantive Minister of Energy. We also ask that the Committee should not be left off the hook,†the statement said,†IES added.
The Presidency confirmed that Boakye Agyarko’s dismissal on Monday was due to his handling of the AMERI novation and amendment agreement.
The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin said the dismissal “is to do with the issue of the controversial AMERI deal.â€
Read: Sack Nana Bediatuo over failed AMERI deal – MP tells Akufo-Addo
“The President believes that in the interest of the Ghanaian people, in the interest of the country and in the interest of his administration, the Minister for Energy, Hon. Boakye Agyarko should be relieved of his position,†Eugene Arhin told Citi News.
Boakye Agyarko reportedly ‘misled’ President Akufo-Addo into granting executive approval to the novation agreement before it was laid before Parliament.
While welcoming Boakye Agyarko’s suspension, IES commended President Akufo-Addo for taking a decisive action on the matter.
IES is further demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the country’s near loss of $800 million.
Among other demands, the IES urged the president to “direct his attention to his close confidants who advised him to issue the Executive Order,â€
It also called on the President to revoke the Executive Approval of the Novation and Amendment Agreement and subsequently withdraw the agreement from Parliament.
“It is becoming evidently clear that not only are the deals becoming questionable, but the energy space is becoming grubby. It demands ruthless actions to uproot the culture of “getting-everything-wrong†eating into the country’s energy space. It requires openness and transparency from leadership at all levels,†it concluded.
COPEC demands prosecution
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) is demanding the investigation and prosecution of all other persons complicit in the botched Ameri novation and amendment deal.
Its Executive Director, Duncan Amoah, in a Citi News interview, said Boakye Agyarko could not have acted alone.
“The President has taken a very bold step,we commend him and we think that if Mr. Agyarko indeed did not want walk alone in this agreement and there are other persons connected, the onus will lie on him, to come out to say that indeed he had no hand and that things were put on him to do.
“Anything other than that some of us believe that Ministers do take the oath to office, and per this oath, if you lie in the law, it is known as perjury and so if perjury has been committed and some legal action could also be taken, the Ghanaian public is all for it to ensure that we do not get here ever again where certain public interests are overridden for appointees’ personal interest.â€
Source: citinewsroom.com
