The Ministry of Energy has described as cheap politicking the discussions which have characterized the renegotiated Ameri deal.
Communications Specialist at the Energy Ministry, Nana Kofi Oppong Damoah says the new agreement with Greek firm, Mytilineos International Trading Company is in the best interest of Ghana.
There is pressure on the government to withdraw the reviewed AMERI deal to ensure Ghana makes maximum returns from it.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, as well as civil society organizations, have kicked against the new agreement, insisting it will not offer Ghana value for money.
Parliament could not approve the deal over the weekend before going on break after the Energy Committee suspended consideration of the deal following the concerns.
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As the Attorney General’s office prepares to re-examine the reviewed agreement, the Institute of Energy Studies is demanding the Energy Ministry withdraws the report.
The passage of the AMERI Novation and Amendment Bill will mean the $510 million Ameri deal will be extended from its original five years to 15 years with the government committing over $700 million to it.
But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Nana Damoah said most of the arguments being advanced against the deal are borne out of ignorance.
He explained that given the cost of the Ameri deal, there is no way the government could honour its financial obligations.
“If you look at the original Ameri deal very well, government said it will assume 9 cents per kilowatts per hour of the cost, the VRA and ECG were supposed to pay 6 cents per kilowatts per hour but government has never paid that 9 cents, so in actual fact, the country is behind on payments by about $92, 000, 000,” he added.
Nana Damoah said their major concern is to ensure Ghanaians gets cheap power and also prevent another power crisis which has become known as dumsor.