Audio By Carbonatix
Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has registered his displeasure with expenditures made by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the Coporation is wasting millions of cedis through activities it has not been legally mandated to undertake.
At a forum to discuss the work of Parliament Saturday, Mr Mensah-Bonsu called for "critical eyes" to be focused on GNPC in the discharge of its functions.
"When you consider the fact that about a third of our oil revenue goes [there] and somehow a lot of them gets misapplied, we should be worried as a country," he said.
GNPC was set up in 1983 to ensure the provision of adequate supply of peteroleum products in the country but it has, for the past years, found itself funding programmes that are not related to its functions.
In 2013, the entity became the headline sponsor of the national team, Black Stars, supporting it with $3 million yearly.
Part of the amount is currently used to pay the salaries of the players, some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have said.
The Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament in April implored the Corporation to truncate its sponsorship agreement with the team but this has not been done.
With Ghana's new status as an oil-producing country, about a third of the revenue generated from the production is channeled into activities of the GNPC.
Mr Mensah-Bonsu believes GNPC has not been judicious with the resources allocated to it and has urged a reduction in funds given the entity.
“If GNPC...has money to ferry supporters of Black Stars…at huge cost [then it has] [d] by its actions and inactions that perhaps, we have given them much more than they deserve," he said.
The Majority is calling for a collaboration between Parliament and government to find a way to direct the attention of GNPC onto its core functions.
Although he said the Corporation may have its own reason to deserve the resources given it, he believes a determination should be made to decide when it is appropriate to "pull the [fund] plugs."
"Perhaps not all of a sudden but to stagger in whatever we do to ensure that they sit up," Mr Mensah-Bonsu added.
Latest Stories
-
Bawumia is the most marketed candidate after Mahama – Farouk Aliu Mahama
19 minutes -
Ken Ofori-Atta can return to Ghana to end US legal matters- Prof. Appiagyei
20 minutes -
My father passed away while campaigning with Bawumia in 2012– Farouk Aliu Mahama
24 minutes -
Northerners are supporting Bawumia because he is competent; nothing else – Farouk Mahama
27 minutes -
Bawumia hasn’t left my family; he has always held us in high esteem – Farouk Aliu Mahama
28 minutes -
NPP race: Bawumia will win 14 regions out of 16 – Farouk Aliu Mahama
30 minutes -
The Aliu Mahama family will always stand by Dr Bawumia – Farouk Mahama
33 minutes -
Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana not automatic after US deportation process – George Ayisi
35 minutes -
Train driver killed in second deadly Spain rail crash in days
38 minutes -
Thieves vandalise Prestea hospital mortuary, delaying its opening
43 minutes -
Should you stop saying ‘um’? Here’s what experts said
48 minutes -
Traders urged to take responsibility in keeping Kejetia market clean
53 minutes -
Ghana moves to reclaim Kwame Nkrumah’s former residence in Guinea for heritage preservation
59 minutes -
Dr Bawumia has transformative plans and visions for Ghana – Farouk Aliu Mahama
1 hour -
Boatemaa Barfour-Awuah sworn as 12th President of GIA
1 hour
