Audio By Carbonatix
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alex Afenyo-Markin, has filed a suit against the Attorney-General, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ecobank at the Supreme Court for going ahead with the Karpower agreement without recourse to parliament.
Joining Mr Afenyo Markin in the suit is MP for New Juaben South, Dr Mark Assibey -Yeboah.
The two MPs are seeking the constitutionality of the Karpower agreement which in total will cost the taxpayer a whopping $100 million to enable the government 'import' 450 megawatts of power from Turkey to offset the current energy supply deficit.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, said they took the action after all efforts to get the government to send the Karpower agreement to parliament for scrutiny had failed.
He noted that the agreement smacks of some 'underhand dealings' and that the nation is not in a position to throw more of taxpayers' money into the drain.
Afenyo-Markin, who is also a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, had persistently raised the issue on the floor of the House in respect of Article 181 (Clause 5) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that every international financial agreement by government must be brought to parliament for approval.
Upon such persistence, the speaker of parliament ordered the Minister of Finance to bring the Karpower agreement to the House but since March when the order was given, the minister had failed to produce the agreement, compelling the speaker to allow the Effutu MP to resort to the courts for determination of the case.
Speaking to Daily Guide after filing the suit on Friday, Mr Afenyo Markin said that the country is governed by laws and that the ruling government must be made to do the right thing and not allowed to take Ghanaians for granted.
According to him, the minister o finance had admitted in parliament that the ministry issued a 'comfort letter' to the GNPC to cover the agreement, which means that the government had committed itself in issuing a guarantee that had been endorsed by Ecobank.
"The fact that the nation is facing serious energy crisis which requires urgent solution does not mean that the wrong thing must be done," he cautioned.
The Effutu MP averred that he had personally petitioned President Mahama to ask the minister to do the right thing but all appeals had fallen on deaf ears.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana’s banking service quality remains strong despite slight dip in customer satisfaction – report
54 seconds -
Gov’t to regularise waste transfer stations as Mahama pushes long-term sanitation reforms
13 minutes -
Ghana Pension Funds leading African shift into private equity, SME financing
14 minutes -
Why EUDR could redefine Africa’s agricultural competitiveness
15 minutes -
We’ll present petitions to Supreme Court, Jubilee House, Parliament – Nana B outlines August 6 protest plan
16 minutes -
Alleged romance scam pastor arraigned Â
19 minutes -
NPA revises fuel price floors for August 4-15 pricing window
33 minutes -
Gov’t should build strategic fuel reserves instead of ad hoc pump price cuts – COPEC
41 minutes -
Terrorists using sophisticated cyber tools to raise funds – Counter Terrorism Director
42 minutes -
Chiefs, queens who engage in or aid galamsey will be prosecuted – Bono Minister warnsÂ
49 minutes -
Zoomlion assures MMDA fumigation workers of payment of salary arrears
59 minutes -
Ghana’s used-vehicle import reforms are necessary, but the policy needs fine-tuning
1 hour -
MTN enhances MoMo security as daily transactions hit 23 million
1 hour -
Ghana Gas delivers strong 2025 results with 97% profit growth; Jinapor urges continued investment
1 hour -
COPEC welcomes GH¢2 diesel subsidy but urges gov’t to pursue long-term fuel strategy
1 hour