Nduom Raps Govt; Says MCA Cash Not Solution To �Dumsor Dumsor�

The 2012 flag bearer of the Progressive People�s Party (PPP,) Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has indicated the $498.2 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) given to the country to invest in the energy sector is not the solution to the country�s energy crisis. In an interview with Accra-based Business Television Africa (BTA), Dr. Nduom opined that the moneys that will accrue to the country through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) is only a boost for the distribution of energy and not an absolute solution to the crisis as has been argued by government communicators. �It will not solve the energy crisis but it will help if managed well�,� Dr. Nduom stated. President John Dramani Mahama appended his signature for the second compact of the US facility after he had been part of the 2014 US-Africa leadership summit. Government had prior to the signing of the compact alerted of its intention to invest the money into the energy sector of the economy. But Dr. Nduom maintained that the manner in which the handlers of the money would implement the various projects aimed at boosting the country�s energy sector will also determine how successful it will be. �How we implement the compact will determine how successful it will be�,� he added. The PPP leader who also served as Ghana�s Energy Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration lamented over the dormant nature of the Volta River Authority (VRA) which was established by Ghana�s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkumah to protect the Akosombo Dam and its associated infrastructure like the Akosombo Township among others. And with the MCA compact, the astute politician hoped the company can once again resurrect to its functions and help in developing the institution which was tasked to developing key industries which are critical to the country�s economy. Dr. Nduom at a Lecture organised by the PPP had argued that Ghana has all it takes � material and human � to have an improved energy sector but maintained that greed on the part of leaders at the energy ministry was the cause of the dysfunctional energy sector. �What we need to become a net exporter in both power and petroleum is not a secret. The plans exist at the Ministry of Energy including plans for renewable forms of energy. For the most part, we have the experts in the energy sector who know what we must do. �From Mr. Ato Awhoi to Albert Kan-Dapaah to Papa Kwesi Nduom to Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, what needs to be done is known and has been known for years. The problem is greed. Remove the greed on the part of politically-connected influence peddlars and their accomplices in government and we will solve the energy problems,� Dr. Nduom stated at the lecture. Still on the MCA money, the PPP 2012 flag bearer argued thatHe further added that moneys giving to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) should have been given to the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) since MiDA would have done a much better job with those moneys. MiDA, it said has over the years learnt how to plan, implement and execute agriculture, road and transport projects. Dr. Nduom who is also a former legislator for Komenda Edina Egyafo Abbrem (KEEA) stressed that MiDA will do well in implementing programmes if it is able to recruit personnel from all around the globe. �There are competent people at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Volta River Authority who can do the job if only they are given room to.� The MCC will make an initial investment of up to $308.2 million, including funding to put the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the country�s main distribution company, on a sustainable path, help the utility meet current electricity needs and upgrade infrastructure to reduce outages and improve service. A second tranche of up to $190 million in funds will be made available if Ghana accomplishes a set of reform targets set forth in the compact. Ghana is also expected to contribute 15 per cent of its own funds to the project pushing the figure to $535,565,000. The MCC is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency which signed the first compact with Ghana in August 2006 and gave the country US$547 million. It brought significant infrastructural projects including the now iconic National Highway (N1) in Accra. Ghana�s MiDA was enacted by the President of the Republic of Ghana and Parliament of Ghana through act 702 on 23rd March, 2006. An amendment to act 702, hereby called act 709 was assented to on July 20, 2006.