Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has delivered a scathing critique of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, accusing it of mismanaging Ghana’s energy sector and warning that the country’s much-anticipated 24-hour economy cannot take off until the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is stabilized.
Speaking before Parliament on Thursday, November 27, Ayariga specifically cited failures in the Millennium Challenge Account Energy Compact 2, claiming that mismanagement resulted in a US$190 million loss for the nation. He said, “They mismanaged the Millennium Challenge Account Energy Compact 2 and in the process we lost $190 million. By giving the distribution to a certain PDS, which went and forged records in providing a payment guarantee, they caused this country dearly.”
Ayariga also referenced a recent investigation into the holdup of ECG containers at the port, revealing that demurrage charges had ballooned to over GH¢909 million due to negligence. He drew attention to irregularities in contract awards, highlighting that contracts worth GH¢159 million were cleared improperly, including a GH¢127.6 million contract awarded to a company without customs house agent registration. The Majority Leader further noted significant deviations between budgeted and actual procurement costs.
“This is the record of the NPP in the management of the Energy sector…The situation at ECG is in the budget. The recent container holdup investigations report of the ECG reveals the mess at the ECG. Due to your negligence, demurrage of over GHS909 million was incurred at the port. Corruption was at its height,” Ayariga told the House.
He concluded by emphasizing that the NPP’s legacy of mismanagement and procurement irregularities must be addressed if Ghana is to realize the vision of a 24-hour economy. “You stand here, and you ask when is 24-hour economy is starting. 24-Hour economy will start when we have cleared the mess at ECG, and we have created a 24-hour energy system,” Ayariga asserted.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
