�Retreat And Redirect Your Focus� - Kweku Baako Tells GNPC

Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has asked the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to �retreat� from their decision not to seek Parliament�s approval for their $700 million loan. The GNPC says all it requires for their loan is an approval of the Finance Ministry and not Parliament. According to the company, the amount when approved by the Finance Minister will be used to support its increasing oil and gas infrastructure investment. When news broke that GNPC were going in for a loan without parliament approval, critics including the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere-Darko, threatened to take them to court if they go ahead with their decision. Speaking to the issue during a panel discussion on PEACE FM morning show �Kokrokoo�, Kweku Baako asked GNPC to �retreat and redirect their focus� ��I don�t have any problem with what they are going to use the money for if it can be handled properly and accounted for; but if parliament has no prior notice, I find it very difficult� Wondering why GNPC are refusing to seek Parliament�s approval for their loan, Kweku Baako said: �What is the big deal? What is it that went into that thinking if it is not sheer arrogance and contempt for the legislative authority of this country�I don�t understand�once they are not willing to retreat and they have ignored parliament, then we need to let the court determine that area�� Meanwhile, GNPC is still insisting that they don�t need Parliamentary approval before borrowing. According to them, "approvals required for GNPC borrowing, in line with Section (15) of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Act, 1983 (PNDC Law 64) include: Approval by the Minister of Finance upon recommendation by the Minister for Energy and Petroleum." They further indicated that they sought and secured a legal opinion from the Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, before initiating the loan process.