Those expecting the Akufo-Addo government to apologise for accusing the former government of fraud over the Ameri power barge contract in 2015, would have to wait a little longer.
According to the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond, the Akufo-Addo government will do no such thing, at least not now.
He said in an interview on Eyewitness News that even if “there could be an apology” Ghanaians would have to “wait for the [special parliamentary] committee [that investigated the deal] to present its report [to Parliament] thereafter we decide who renders the apology.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”XBpcRmBRHSfhVtI10xSPlggWIqgrbUFd”]The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government signed a $510 million Ameri contract in 2015 to secure a 300MW emergency power at the peak of the country’s power crisis.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) while in opposition accused John Mahama government of fraud over the deal.
The party vowed to review or abrogate the agreement if it wins power.
True to their words, few months into office, it formed a 17-member committee to investigate the issue. The committee was fraught with some controversies but rubbished the accusations and upheld the party’s earlier position.
K.T Hammond subsequently moved a motion urging Parliament to rescind the Ameri agreement due to what he described as “misrepresentations” by the company when the deal was presented to the House under the Mahama Administration.
A committee was set by Parliament to investigate the issue and make recommendations; however, a year down the line, its report has not yet been released.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Attorney General has cleared the Ameri deal stating that the John Mahama government did not “err” in signing the agreement because it was “valid.”
But KT Hammond believes that Parliament’s investigative committee has a different take on the matter, but said it has to be brought before Parliament first.
Minority pressure
The Minority Members of Parliament had earlier demanded an express apology from the president, Nana Akufo-Addo for what they describe as ‘unwarranted attacks’ on John Mahama in the run-up to 2016 general elections over the controversial AMERI power deal.
Their call is premised on the supposed Attorney General’s report on the contract which seemed to have exonerated the previous government.
According to the Minority NDC, the report from the Attorney General’s department vindicates John Mahama and “proved that Former President Mahama and his government took a very good decision in the wake of the energy challenges.”
I didn’t make any accusation
“I never made the point that the NDC government and the Minister of Power or whoever was responsible at the time did something fishy…there can’t be an apology,” KT Hammond said on the Point Blank segment on Eyewitness News on Tuesday.
Direct Ameri report delay concerns to Majority Leader
K.T Hammond says he cannot be blamed for the delay on the presentation of the report on controversial Ameri deal on the Floor of Parliament.
According to him, some complaints must be directed to the Majority leader who leads parliamentary business.
“It hasn’t come to the plenary because the Majority Leader hasn’t put it in the business,” KT Hammond said.
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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin
