Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer[ Former Deputy Energy Minister, and Tourism and Creative Arts Minister Nominee writes:

Hon. John Jinapor’s ‘raving’ and ‘ranting’ on “Ameri Plants” Relocation and matters arising.

I’ve in the past few days seen a write up by my good friend the Ranking Member on the Mines & Energy Commitee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Yarpei-Kusogu John Abdulai Jinapor bothering on the relocation of the “Ameri” Power Plant procured under the Presidency of Mr John Mahama and related matters.

I wish to indicate to Hon Jinapor that the NPP’s criticism of the Ameri transaction related primarily to the PRICE INFLATION – a characteristic NDC scheme to divert state funds just like it did with the Kasoa interchange; “ Kofi Dubai” Interchange; Cannizzaro Road contracts, etc. The fraudulent nature of the Ameri transaction has been succinctly dealt with in a piece authored by Mr. Kojo Poku in response to Hon Jinapor and will accordingly not dwell much on that issue.

Needless to say, it is important to bring to Hon Jinapor’s attention key factual matters which conveniently “escaped” him as follows:

1.​ That following the end date of the 5-year BOOT transaction executed by the Mahama administration, the 10 GE Plants procured under the deal were handed over to the VRA by the government in 2021.

2.​ Due to the “excess capacity” within the power generation space arising out of the numerous PPA’s executed by the Mahama administration during the ‘DUMSOR’ period between 2012 and 2016, the “Ameri” plants handed over to VRA has NEVER been turned on since February/March 2021 and were actually sitting and ‘wasting’ away at Aboadze in the Western Region.

3.​ To ensure that VRA make some future use of the “Ameri” plants and to achieve the objective of having a power enclave in the middle belt to enhance transmission line reliability and efficiency as contained in the outcome of the GRID studies done and published in 2014; and also to limit the transportation payments on the WAPCo reverse flow line, government, in 2021mandated the VRA to “decommission” the plants in Aboadze and relocate them to Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region.

4.​⁠ VRA has completed the relocation of 6 units. These units of necessity ought to be “commissioned” before they can be put to use. How the “commissioning” of the plants constitutes a “crime” to warrant the incessant berating of the Akufo-Addo government beats my imagination!

5.​ Questioning the fact that consistent with the established mode of determining the name and ID of power plants, VRA chooses to name the relocated “Ameri” plants “Kumasi 1 Thermal Power Station” (K1TPP) is even more bizarre.

6.​ The fact of the matter is that, depending on the location of its thermal assets, VRA (and other IPPs) is in the nature of combining the name of the town where the plant is situated together with the sequence number to name the plant or if you like, generate the plant ID. Thus for example, some power plants in Kpong are named “Kpong Termal Power Plant I” (KTPP); in Tema are named Tema Thermal Power Station PH. 1 (TT1PP); Tema Thermal Power Station PH. 2 (TT2PP); and those in Takoradi named Takoradi Thermal Power Station -Train 1 (T1) etc. etc.. Depicting the name of the town and the sequence of plant in terms of first to be established.

7.​ To suggest that the Akufo-Addo government hasn’t achieved anything in the energy sector is laughable. Available data doesn’t support this assertion. And by the way, is it not the same Hon Jinapor who has accused the Akufo-Addo government of extending the AKSA PPA (albeit under more favourable terms than his NDC did); and also accused government of contracting another plant to be built in Kumasi to come on stream in 2027/28 when additional capacity will actually be needed? Are these two positions not contradictory?

8.​⁠ Assuming without admitting that his assertions were even factual ( which is denied), will Hon Jinapor in all sincerity, have applauded the Akufo-Addo government if, on assumption of office, the government had gone on the tangent of just adding on capacity that Ghana didn’t need like his NDC government did with its attendant excess capacity payments running into Billions of Dollars just for the sake of (according to Hon Jinapor)“achieving something meaningful”?

9.​ ⁠Infact, the Akufo-Addo government acted and has consistently acted in a responsible manner in dealing with our energy issues. The government, as a first step in 2017 embarked on rationalizing the numerous PPAs signed by the NDC government, and has by and large kept the lights on (albeit with some temporary hiccups). Very much unlike the 4-year darkness that his darling former President John Mahama plunged this country into.

10.​ In any event, the NDC claims that NPP has abandoned the project that they started and is now criticizing this government for continuing and making better use of a government facility by relocating the “Ameri” plants to Kumasi.

11.​ From the forgoing, can⁠ it be said as a matter of fact that the NDC and Hon. John Jinapor’s real intention is to oppose any project going to Kumasi as some of their commentators are saying? I hope not.

12.​⁠ Hon Jinapor should come again. His propaganda post against the Akufo-Addo government’s decision to relocate the “Ameri” plants won’t wash with right-thinking members of society. The decision is technically sound and the name K1TPP is consistent with established practice.