[ 2021-02-16 ]

John Jinapor

A ‘higher authority’ than ministers to blame for looming judgement debt
A former deputy Power Minister, John Jinapor,
believes someone above the ministers of Roads,
Finance or National Security should be held
responsible for the possible judgement debt over
the Accra Intelligent Traffic Management
contract.

Speaking on The Point of View, he shied away from
mentioning names but said: “a higher authority
than these ministers should take the ultimate
responsibility.”

Management of the Beijing Everyway Traffic and
Lighting Technology Company Limited has dragged
Ghana to the London court of international
arbitration.

This follows the cancellation of the Accra
Intelligent Traffic Management contract which was
earlier awarded to the company.

The company was contracted in 2018 to implement
the project worth $100 million after
Parliament’s approval.

But in November 2020, the Bill was re-laid before
Parliament with a contract agreement between
Ghana, Huawei Technologies Company Limited and the
China National Import and Export Corporation.

Though the case has not been resolved, Mr. Jinapor
does not think Ghana will come out successful.

“I wish Ghana all the best but clearly if you
look at what transpired, we should prepare for
another massive one.”

He was also commenting on the $134 million
judgement debt Ghana was slapped with over the
cancellation of its Emergency Power Agreement with
GCGP Limited.

The International Court of Arbitration in its
ruling on the matter also said the judgement debt
came with a $30 million interest payment
obligation.

Mr. Jinapor lamented the inability of the
government to exercise restraint on these deals.

He questioned why the government didn’t pursue
dialogue before cancelling the respective deals.

“Why can’t we negotiate when we want to
terminate. At least pursue that option first.
Negotiate and see if you can come to an amicable
solution.”

“If negotiation fails, and you are pursuing the
other option, that makes a bit of sense but why
this rush to terminate only to go to the
international court of arbitration and pay huge
sums of money. This is unfair,” he added.

Source - Citinewsroom

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