[ 2017-01-19 ]

The Ameri group has embarked on several energy related projects for the country.

Jail looms as Gov’t reviews “stinking” $510m Ameri deal
The Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration has
described the $510 million contract between Ghana,
Africa and Middle East Resources Investment
(AMERI) Group as a “stinker.”

“It is a stinking deal,” a high profile
personality at the Jubilee House whispered to
Starrfmonline.com after studying the Transition
Report.
The Ameri Group was contracted by the John
Mahama-led administration to supply gas turbines
to Ghana.

It has emerged that the young oil-producing
country paid $290 million more than it should for
the $220 million power generators.
An in-depth investigation into the deal by
Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) in December
2015 alleged the NDC government paid more than the
actual price for the turbines on the international
market.

Starrfmonline.com can confirm the economic
management team of the new administration has
deliberated over the deal and has the blessing of
President Akufo-Addo to review the “stinking
contract.”

“We can save Ghana a lot if we are able to get
the right things done with this particular
contract. It’s quite sad and after reviewing it,
if we find out that some officials are culpable of
any criminality we’ll allow the law to take its
course,” the source at the presidency remarked.

“There are aspects of the deal which are not
public and that also contribute to the high cost
of electricity in this country. Once we are able
to fix some of these things, the ordinary Ghanaian
will begin to feel some reprieve.”

The former Minister of Power Dr. Kwabena Donkor is
on record to have defended his government, saying
there was nothing shady in the deal.

According to a December 15, 2015 edition of the
Daily Guide, Dr Donkor claimed that as a
build-own-operate-transfer, the NDC government
“has not made any payments to Ameri and will not
be making any payments for the cost of the
equipment,” and that “per the agreement with
Ameri, the Government of Ghana through the Volta
River Authority (VRA) will only make payments to
Ameri for power produced and supplied to the VRA
just like any other Independent Power Producer
(IPP).”

He said Ghana is required to provide “a standby
Letter of Credit (LC) for an amount of $51
million, which LC has been raised.

“It must also be explained that the quoted price
of $220 million in the Norwegian story for
outright purchase of similar turbines is exclusive
of all other costs such as auxiliaries, balance of
plant, civil works, sub-station, installation of
equipment, cost of financing, operation and
maintenance, etc.”

Source - Starrfmonline.com

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