Ghanaian Energy Minister Sacked
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has sacked the Minister for Energy Boakye Agyarko with immediate effect.
Although there has been no reason for Agyarko’s sack, the presidency disclosed that Addo has asked Agyarko to hand over to John Peter Amewu, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, who would act temporarily as Minister for Energy, until a substantive appointment is made.
However, local reports say his dismissal was linked to attempts by his ministry to amend portions of the controversial 510 million dollars power deal signed between Ghana and the UAE-based Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group (AMERI) Energy in 2015 by the previous government.
The new agreement was to extend the current five-year deal with AMERI Energy which is currently operating a 300MW emergency power plant in Ghana to 15 years and bring on board a new company to manage the plant for the period.
The government believes there was no value for money in the first agreement hence the Energy Ministry’s decision to go for renegotiation which has created controversies after the deal was withdrawn from parliament after Ghanaians raised concerns about the cost.
President Akufo-Addo appointed Agyarko as minister of energy in January 2017.
