The Deputy Minister for Energy, Honorable Andrew Egyapa Mercer has refuted criticisms made by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Energy and Mines over the relocation of the Ameri Power Plants.
The Member of Parliament for Sekondi Constituency in the Western region, began his rebuttals by reaffirming that the ruling New Patriotic Party’s critique of the Ameri transaction under the previous administration was primarily focused on the perceived price inflation.
‘I’ve in the past few days seen a write up by my good friend the Ranking Member on the Mines & Energy Commitee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Yarpei-Kusogu John Abdulai Jinapor bothering on the relocation of the “Ameri” Power Plant procured under the Presidency of Mr John Mahama and related matters”.
Honorable Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister of Energy
He accused the National Democratic Congress administration under former President John Dramani Mahama of allegedly shortchanging the country in the Ameri Power Plants transactions, citing perceived previous instances such as the Kasoa interchange and the Circle Interchange as examples of similar practices.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Energy and the Tourism, Creative Art and Culture Minister Designate described the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusagu Constituency’s claims as misleading.
Honorable Egyapa Mercer further indicated that following the conclusion of the “5-year BOOT transaction” initiated by the erstwhile Mahama’s administration, the 10 GE Plants procured under the deal were handed over to the Volta River Authority in 2021.
However, Honorable Egyapa asserted that due to perceived excess capacity resulting from various PPAs signed during the previous administration era, the Ameri plants remained dormant since February and March 2021, “languishing” at Aboadze in the Western region.
Moreover, Honorable Egyapa Mercer posited that the relocation of 6 units of the Ameri Power Plants by the Volta River Authority to Kumasi required its commissioning before utilization.
He expressed bewilderment at Mr Jinapor’s criticism of the government’s decision to commission the plants, describing his criticisms as “baseless”.
Honorable Egyapa Mercer also chastised Honorable Jinapor’s criticisms against the government’s decision to relocate the Ameri plants to Kumasi by asserting that the move is technically sound and consistent with established practices.
He further dismissed what he deemed as the opposition National Democratic Congress perceived insinuations of the government attempt to projects Kumasi through the relocation of the power plants, urging Honorable Jinapor to reconsider his stance.
“VRA has completed the relocation of 6 units. These units of necessity ought to be “commissioned” before they can be put to use. How the “commissioning” of the plants constitutes a “crime” to warrant the incessant berating of the Akufo-Addo government beats my imagination!”
Honorable Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister of Energy
Renaming of Ameri Power Plants
Commenting on the Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusagu Constituency, Honorable John Abdulai Jinapor’s criticisms regarding the renaming of the relocated plants as “Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Station” (K1TPP), Honorable Mercer argued that such nomenclature is consistent with established conventions in the energy sector.
He provided examples of other power plants including those in Kpong, Tema, Takoradi being named after the towns they are situated in to back his assertions.
In addition, Honorable Egyapa Mercer also refuted Honorable Jinapor’s assertion that the New Patriotic Party administration under President Akufo-Addo had not achieved anything in the energy sector, dismissing it as “laughable” and unsupported by data.
He accused Honorable Jinapor of inconsistency, pointing out his perceived contradiction in his criticisms against the ruling government of extending the AKSA PPA while also faulting the government for contracting additional capacity in Kumasi.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Honorable Egyapa Mercer concluded his remarks by defending the New Patriotic Party’s approach to addressing Ghana’s energy challenges.
He highlighted the ruling New Patriotic Party administration’s efforts to rationalize PPAs signed by the previous administration and keeping the lights on, contrasting it with what he described as the “4-year darkness” under the National Democratic Congress administration led by former President John Dramani Mahama.
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