NDC Transition Team Raises Alarm Over GH₵240m Payment to ECG Entity
Ghana's incoming government has hit a snag just as it begins its transition into power. The transition team's spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has expressed serious concerns over some last-minute decisions taken by the outgoing administration.
At the top of the list is a whopping GH₵240 million payment to an entity that has done business with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The team is questioning the timing and necessity of this payment, especially given the precarious state of Ghana's economy.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, a former Deputy Information Minister, stressed that good governance dictates that the incoming government should have a say in such critical decisions. He also noted that while payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) might be justified to keep the power supply stable, this particular payment raises eyebrows.
“There were a few issues that came up that generated some discussions. Amongst them was the worrying issue of last-minute recruitments and payments in some ministries, departments, and agencies,” he
“Good governance requires that the incoming government is given the opportunity to make these decisions,” he added.
While acknowledging that payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) might be justified to keep the power supply stable, he questioned the urgency and necessity of this particular payment.
"We have picked up information and indeed we’ve seen documentation relating to efforts to pay over GH₵240 million to an entity that is supposed to have done some business with the ECG. Now, if it was being paid to IPPs to keep the power on, one perhaps would not have an issue but it is being paid to an entity whose work in my view is not as critical as IPPs.”
“We raised strong objections to these maneuvers and requested that they be put on hold. The government side agreed to this, and we will forcefully insist that this is a dangerous precedent,'' he added.
The transition team has requested a halt to the transaction until further scrutiny can be conducted. Fortunately, the outgoing government's representatives have agreed to suspend the payment pending further discussions.
In a related development, the team has also raised concerns over last-minute recruitments in some ministries, departments, and agencies. These actions, according to Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, could have severe fiscal implications for the incoming administration.
Source: Lead News Online
