AMERI deal had value for money – Kwabena Donkor

Former Minister of Power Dr Kwabena Donkor has debunked claims that the AMERI deal signed by the John Mahama government to rescue the country from power crisis had no value
He also rubbishes claims by the Addison Committee, set up by Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, that the contract was overpriced by some $150 million,

According to him, an international accounting and auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, declared that the deal had value for money, hence it does not lie in the mouth of the Addison Committee alone to proclaim it did not have value for money.

Addressing journalists in Accra on April 3, Dr Donkor said “Value for money is essential; it is about whether the project gives good value to the Ghanaian, both as a consumer and future owner of the plant.

He further expressed surprise that members of the Addison Committee think they are more qualified to make pronouncements on value for money regarding the AMERI deal than a globally credible firm such as PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Although the committee claims of absence of a legal opinion, Dr Donkor says the Attorney General’s Department was strongly represented throughout the negotiations.
“We will pledge our support to the government as long as the issues of energy are being resolved in the national interest, but if they introduce partisanship in this way, much against our wish, we will be forced to respond.

Dr. Donkor further disclosed that, the committee visited Dubai and AMERI Energy paid for their hotel, AMERI energy paid for their flight tickets.

Members of the Addison Committee, visited Dubai, they had meetings with AMERI even after this report was written. We will want to ask, ‘who paid for their tickets?’ Who paid for the hotel accommodation that they used? If you are going to investigate someone, do they pay for your tickets and pay for your accommodation and host you?
The 17-member Philip Addison committee which investigated the agreement concluded that the deal was inflated by $150million by the Mahama administration.
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The deal was for the supply of gas turbines to Ghana, which were to provide additional power to the national grid to ease the biting load shedding exercise that plagued the country at the time.
The committee has recommended to the government to recall owners of the Dubai-based company for renegotiation and that if the company refused to honour the invitation for re-negotiation, the government should renounce the agreement on grounds of fraud.