Politics

PDS scandal is testimony to glorify state ownership, management – Omane Boamah

Dr Omane Boamah, a former Minister of Communications, has suggested that the controversy that has hit the concessionaire agreement between Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited and the government is proof that state ownership and management of key utilities is better.

“The PDS scandal is another testimony to the glory of both state ownership and management, “I believe there are serious citizens who can manage the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) if proper pay for performance measures are instituted,” he stressed.

Government suspended PDS’ management of electricity alleging the private company has hatched a plan to deceive the state and explained that documents presented by PDS as guarantee for takeover of power retailing and distribution company were forged.

However, Dr Boamah has called for the immediate interdiction of key staff of Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to ensure genuine investigation into scandals of ECG-PDS transaction.

“This has become necessary because some high profile figures at the Millennium Development Authority have mounted unsubstantiated defence for transfer of Electricity Company of Ghana to Power Distribution Services which has become an albatross on the government’s neck after Americans called for forensic investigation into the scandal-rocked transaction.

“I am surprised MiDA is still defending obviously fraudulent deal which has generated anger of many well-meaning Ghanaians because of its scandalous degree, I ask for reasons underlining John-Peter Amewu, the Minister of Energy’s declaration of deal as fraudulent,” Dr Boamah quizzed.

Mr Amewu had also said the documents indicated that a company in Qatar guaranteed for PDS but management of that company had informed the government document was not authentic but PDS insists it had done nothing wrong and promised to respond to suspension of power concession agreement appropriately in due time.

 PDS was still providing activities related to electricity retail as an interim arrangement, joint statement by ECG and PDS said interim arrangement was “to ensure there is no disruption of power supply and service delivery” to customers and a government delegation went to Dubai to probe the authenticity of the PDS guarantee.

Benjamin Boakye, Head of African Centre for Energy Policy, pointed out that MiDA failed to select a company with an unquestionable credibility to raise funds and manage electricity in the country and conducted poor job after paid whooping $40million for the entire process. -myjoyonline.com/Ghanapoliticsonline.com

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