Mathew Opoku Prempeh’s days as Minister of Energy is drawing nearer, as it has emerged from his recent standoff with the workers of Ghana Gas over the Genser Energy deal, that he has completely lost grip over the strategic ministry.
His tenure at the Energy Ministry, has witnessed a cleverly crafted unholy alliance with some notable members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, who had hitherto been very vociferous on matters relating to energy remaining unusually quiet.
The ungodly pact and seemingly purchased silence from the opposition Members of Parliament (MP), continue to deny the country value for money in most transactions undertaken by the Akufo-Addo government, including the Genser Energy deal.
The Herald in a series of exposés last year, reported about the Genser Energy deal between the company and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
The national oil company, had signed a gas sales agreement with the private company, Genser, and provided a staggering $2 billion in benefits to the company, amidst protest from Ghana Gas.
Last week, Dr Opoku Prempeh, found himself in hot waters with the Senior Staff Association of Ghana National Gas Company, chastising him for allegedly approving a deal for Genser Energy, to establish a gas processing plant in the Western Region to compete with the state-owned gas company.
The Minister’s decision, according to the Ghana Gas workers, amounts to stabbing President Akufo-Addo in the back, because the President, had last year, tasked Ghana Gas, to establish a second gas processing plant to process more gas for electricity generation and domestic consumption.
Rather than responding to the matters, the Energy Minister, quickly hid himself under the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Samuel Atta Akyea, theMember of Parliament (MP) of Akim Abuakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region and has John Abdulai Jinapor, the MP for Yapei-Kusawgu constituency as Ranking Member, claiming it was investigating the matter.
Dr Opoku Prempeh in a statement claimed that “this matter is being investigated by the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy. The Ministry is mindful of the legal consequences of discussing same in those circumstances. The President of the Republic further referred the matter to the Ministry, the Petroleum Commission, and the Energy Commission for investigation. A report in this respect has been delivered to His Excellency the President.”
Interestingly, when The Herald and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) began publishing on the transaction, the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament popped up to show interest in the matter and started its investigation into it.
Intriguingly, the committee rather resorted to sponsored trips to Genser Energy’s facilities to sing the company’s praise before even concluding their investigation.
Several months have passed and there is no report from the Committee on the investigation into the suitability of the transaction to Ghana.
According to some people close to the matter, some MPs on the committee, who have shown bias and interest in the matter instigated the investigation into the Genser Energy transaction at the request of the Minister of Energy to divert public attention.
Subsequently, some committee members on both sides of the political divide, openly criticized CSOs against the deal, while they praised Genser.
At the Committee sitting, The Herald is informed that many of the MPs were openly biased towards Genser. While some were hostile to the CSOs, others pleaded with the CSOs to allow Genser to have its way, claiming it was an indigenous Ghanaian company.
Meanwhile, Genser itself has not said anything publicly about the deal. The committee itself noted significant inconsistencies between the presentation of Genser and GNPC, which should have triggered a series of interrogations with many people who were involved.
Interestingly, the Parliamentary investigation has been put on ice. This proves to many who believed that the process was a charade right from the start.
According to someone with insight into the committee’s workings, “the speaker did not sanction the investigations anymore.”
In a recent revelation, Ghana Gas Senior Workers, have called on the President to intervene in an additional deal granted by the Minister of Energy.
The Ministry responded to the workers and blamed his predecessor for the deal. The Minister also implicated the CEO of Ghana Gas, Dr Ben Asante for inciting the workers to indict him for the deal. This raises a question as to why the CEO, will sponsor the workers against the minister.
The Herald is investigating how the relationship between the CEO and the minister broke down and will update readers in the coming days.
However, this paper can authoritatively say that the workers were right in blaming the Energy Minister for the terrible deal, which directly undermines the national investment in Ghana Gas.
Before the Minister took office in 2021, there was no agreement authorizing Genser Energy to build a gas conditioning plant.
The gas conditioning plant was added to the amendment of the sweetheart pipeline contract approved by Dr Opoku Prempeh in March 2021.
At the time of the authorization, the Minister, who has oversight responsibility over the sector, knew that Ghana Gas was in the process of building a second train to process the extra gas from Jubilee and TEN fields. Therefore, an attempt to push the blame on predecessors is disingenuous.
Again, the minister takes refuge in the investigation being done by the Mines and Energy Committee to avoid commenting on the substance of the issues raised by the workers.
But The Herald followed the backend exchanges after the committee started the investigation, which shows that the Minister did not stop intervening in the deal during the process, therefore, cannot pretend to respect the investigative process to avoid providing information.
The Herald, will publish all the details in the coming days.
The Energy Ministry dismissed claims that the sector minister, Dr Opoku Prempeh, has signed a contract with Genser for the building of a second Gas processing plant with a higher capacity.
Ghana Gas Senior Staff Association in a statement dated January 9, 2023, called on President Akufo-Addo to intervene in the minister’s alleged approval of the Genser deal.
The senior staff expressed their displeasure about the manner in which the Minister was supposedly handling the Gas industry.
“Workers of Ghana Gas were shocked to hear that Genser is planning to build a Gas Processing Plant with its raw gas source being Jubilee fields.
They are therefore calling on the presidency to intervene since the President’s dream of having a second Gas processing plant is on the line,” the Association said in its statement.
But in a separate statement on January 10, 2023, the Energy Ministry, stated, “The Minister wishes to state emphatically that neither he nor anyone else acting on behalf of the Ministry has signed any contract with GENSER. The only contracts signed with Genser on record are by GNGC and GNPC”.
According to the Energy Ministry, the issue is being investigated by the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy adding, “this matter is being investigated by the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy. The Ministry is mindful of the legal consequences of discussing same in those circumstances. The President of the Republic further referred the matter to the Ministry, the Petroleum Commission, and the Energy Commission for investigation. A report in this respect has been delivered to His Excellency the President,” the statement added.
