Take-or-pay PPAs: Minority accuses gov’t of credibility crisis
The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament has leveled accusations against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, alleging a credibility crisis following the reported signing of two Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 750 megawatts of power.
Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah questioned the sudden urgency displayed by the government in addressing power additions to the electricity sector.
In an interview in Parliament on Friday, the Deputy leader stated, “Have they just woke up from slumber? Why is it that all of a sudden the government realized the need for power additions? We must understand that we should take decisions in the national interest.”
He criticized the NPP for allegedly disregarding caution from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which had consistently advised the government to be cautious with its rhetoric about the previous administration’s power sector deals.
He highlighted the NDC’s warnings against labeling the prior PPAs as excessive.
“This is a government that has been throwing slogans about big industries. Where are you going to get power? Sadly, for the last seven years, we cannot point to one power addition. In the last year of this administration, all of a sudden, they are panicking to add power,” he remarked.
The Deputy leader emphasized vindication of the NDC’s decisions during its governance, attributing the stability in the power sector to the power plants brought in during the party’s tenure.
He urged Ghanaians to question the NPP government’s sudden shift in policy.
“The people of Ghana must now begin to ask the NPP questions. What has happened? Ask them tough questions. You just told us a few years ago that we have oversubscribed PPAs and that you are negotiating to bring them down,” he added.
Hon. Kofi Buah pointed out a perceived inconsistency in the government’s stance, highlighting the take-or-pay nature of the recently signed agreements.
“This PPAs that have been signed, guess what? They are take-or-pay agreements. The government has serious credibility issues. When it comes to power, they talk from both sides of their mouth, and you as journalists must begin to challenge them,” he urged.
He emphasized that the NDC has been vindicated by the decisions it had made during its governance and called for transparency and accountability from the NPP government regarding the recent power agreements.
