Adnan Adams Mohammed
Information gathered indicates that, works on the Ameri power plant relocation to Ashanti region is almost completed with the gas pipelines ready.
The installation of six units of the plant is also near completion.
Although, the technical aspect of the project is almost done, the administrative aspects are yet to be concluded. The agreement to govern the interconnection and use of the pipeline is yet to be finalized.
“Volta River Authority (VRA) and Genser Energy Ghana (GEGL) is negotiating an interconnection agreement to govern”, sources close to the project told this news medium.
“Also, GNPC and VRA are yet to finalise the amendment to the GSA which allows for gas delivery to Kumasi.”
“With the information I have, the Genser constructed pipeline is ready and even packed with gas. However that of the power plant is still pending. 6 units of Ameri have been transported.
“Installation of the units started in August of last year”, the source further noted.
The gas pipelines laid from Dawusaso to Kumasi is 105km.
This project was initially met with hostility from some stakeholders and players in the energy sector. The Minority in Parliament raised concerns about the estimated cost of the project.
According to the Minority, they noticed the anomaly when the Committee on Mines and Energy met with a number of Agencies in the Mines and Energy sector, as part of Parliament’s supervisory role.
A Member on the Committee of Mines and Energy, Edward Bawa disclosed in a statement that when the Committee pushed further for details on the total cost for the relocation of the Plant, “answers were not forthcoming.”
“One of the questions I put to the Volta River Authority was how much the relocation of the Ameri Plant from Tarkoradi to Kumasi was going to cost the Tax payer and which company was awarded the contract to execute this. You will recall that Government took the decision to relocate the Ameri Plant to Kumasi as part of efforts to stabilize the power in Kumasi and its environs,”.
“To my outmost shock, the committee was told it was going to cost 35 million United States dollars. This is about 270 million Ghana Cedis,” Mr. Bawa disclosed.
He continued: “The company contracted to carry out the relocation of the plant is MYTILINEOUS INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMPANY, the same company that was involved in the notations and amendment of the Ameri contract that almost swindled Ghanaians but for the vigilance of the Minority. You will also recall that this was what cost Minister Boakye Agarko his Job as Energy Minister.”
“As a Minority we demand the breakdown of this cost particularly at a time when the country is having difficulties paying salaries and servicing our debt.
“The Energy sector is under serious challenges and therefore such opaque transactions must be halted in the supreme interest of every Ghanaian,” the MP for Bongo stated.
