General News of Saturday, 8 December 2018

Source: classfmonline.com

Amewu trashes Agyarko’s Ameri deal, submits new contract

John Peter Amewu, Energy Minister John Peter Amewu, Energy Minister

Energy Minister John Peter Amewu, has laid a renegotiated and enhanced terms of the controversial $150 million Build, Operate, Own and Transfer (B.O.O.T) deal between the government of Ghana and Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group Llc (Ameri Energy) for installation of 10 GE TM 2500 aero-derivative gas turbines.

The government has subsequently withdrawn the previous Novation and Amendment Agreement sent to parliament by sacked Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko.

Ameri is expected to also operate, maintain, transfer and provide support services after the installation of the plants.

The Minister, who was in Parliament on Wednesday, 6 December 2018 to personally lay the renegotiated deal, is hopeful the legislature will expedite work on it for subsequent presidential assent.

First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu referred the deal to the Mines and Energy Committee as well as the Finance Committee of parliament.

It will be recalled that Mr Agyarko’s dismissal was in connection with the Ameri deal signed by the John Mahama administration.

Mr Agyarko came under heavy criticism when he claimed that Ghana will gain $405 million from the new power deal with Ameri Energy but it was discovered that the country will rather lose up to $472 million.