Minority caucus calls Atta Akyea out for ‘lies’ about Mahama’s energy agreements

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has come under fire from the Minority Caucus of Parliament over charges he made regarding energy agreements inked under the administration of former President John Dramani Mahama.

The minority disputes Atta Akyea’s assertion that idle electricity from power contracts negotiated by the Mahama government cost Ghana about $320 million in 2018.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs also denied Atta Akyea’s assertion that more than 40 take-or-pay power agreements were signed under the former president in a statement released by John Jinapor, the ranking member of the Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee and the representative for Yapei Kusawgu.

“It is untrue and shows a blatant lack of understanding of Ghana’s power industry that the present government is required to pay more than 320 million dollars in 2018 for wasted power charges as a result of 43 take-or-pay Power Purchase Agreements taken into by the previous administration.

“The data from the 2018 Energy Statistics published by the Energy Commission are accessible for verification. According to these figures, 13 thermal plants in total were operational in 2018, however only three (3) were signed by President Mahama.

Parts of the statement stated that it was “shocking and mind-boggling” how the New Patriotic Party and its communicators were able to fabricate and inflate such unjustified payments for 43 take-or-pay power deals in 2018 alone.

Atta Akyea’s words:

According to reports, the head of Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee chastised former President Mahama for the power deals the nation signed when he was in office.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, June 15, 2023 in Accra, Atta Akyea said that the power supply deal signed by the previous president had more negative effects than positive ones, according to citinewsroom.com.

“Capacity charges for surplus generating capabilities contracted under the take or pay policy cost 320 million in 2018, and it is anticipated that these costs would rise to 620 million yearly when new plants are added in 2019.

“These wasted supply costs are one of the major causes of the industry’s financial distress. According to news reports, he stated that the cumulative net sector debt in 2018 was $2.7 billion, of which 30% was owed to the private sector. This amount is equal to 33% of the government’s tax income for that year, underscoring the magnitude of the financial strain.