The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has called on President Akufo-Addo to explain to Ghanaians why he gave an executive approval to the novated AMERI power deal.
According to him, President Akufo-Addo’s decision to relieve the Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko of his position over the controversial deal does not absolve the president from blame.
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.”
“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.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its minority caucus, as well as some analysts, had kicked against the agreement, describing as “stinky.”
But Asiedu Nketiah said President Akufo-Addo must hold himself accountable for approving the agreement.
“The president signs the agreement with his eyes open; then nobody misled him. And he must hold himself accountable,” he said.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, Asiedu Nketiah said although the NDC welcomes the dismissal of Boakye Agyarko, it believes the president owes Ghanaians further explanation on the matter.
“We are interested in the firing, but we don’t consider it as the answer to the issues that have been raised. It may be an important step, but that does not bring to closure the issues that we have raised. After the firing, the president has some explanations to do.”
“I believe when the controversy arose about why the president gave the executive approval to such a stinking deal, the information was that the President was misled? When we were trying to find out who misled the president, this announcement of the sacking of the minister came. I do not think that, that should be the solution. The president should come clear and tell Ghanaians who misled him. And how he was misled. Because we don’t think that sacking the minister gives answers to these issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Energy Security (IES) has called on President Akufo-Addo to sack all three Deputy Ministers of Energy following the removal of the sector minister, Boakye Agyarko from office.
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.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) is also demanding an investigation and prosecution of all other persons complicit in the botched AMERI novation and amendment deal.
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Source: Citinewsroom.com