Chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee [PIAC], Dr. Steve Manteaw, strongly believes the claims of fraud levelled against the Power Distribution Services (PDS) which culminated in the decision by government to abrogate the concessionaire deal between the two were trumped-up.
Even though the deal has been officially terminated by government - the PIAC boss is of a view that "because of tsobo", fraud allegations were instituted by government to form the basis to terminate the concession deal to allow some individuals in government benefit from the concession.
Engagement & Suspension
PDS was engaged in March 2019 by government to take over the distribution of power from Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), but in July this year, the company was found to have presented invalid insurance security for the takeover of ECG assets. Thus barely six months after taking over ECG's role, the company was suspended after suspicions by government that the agreement was tainted with fraud.
On Tuesday, July 3O, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, disclosed that the "decision follows the detection of fraudulent and material breaches of PDS obligation in the provision of Payment Securities (Demand Guarantees) for the transaction which have been discovered upon further diligence".
Cleared Of Fraud
The transaction advisor, US-backed Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) - the supervising agency of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact - hired the services of an independent investigator, FIT Consulting, to conduct forensic audit over the alleged fraudulent guarantee documents submitted by PDS.
FIT Consulting, on Tuesday, September 3, submitted its findings which cleared PDS of fraud to MiDA.
Subtle Moves To Restructure Shareholding Partners
Despite the clearance, Peacefmonline.com can confirm that PDS remained suspended, with government making moves to take out PDS and restructure. Peacefmonline.com stumbled upon a letter written by the Finance Minister to a private legal practitioner from Akufo-Addo Chambers, Akoto Ampaw, to restructure the shareholding of the Ghanaian partners.
Reinstate PDS In 10 Days Or...
It appears the US government might have gotten wind of the subtle moves by government to restructure the shareholding partners and was clearly not enthused.
Through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), it issued a letter requesting the Government of Ghana to lift the suspension of the LAA, BSA and GSA, and cause the Energy Commission to also lift the Retail Supply License of PDS. It further warned that government risks losing the second tranche allotment of $190m of the Compact II, if it fails to reinstate the PDS concession by October 20.
But in a letter signed by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, which went viral over the weekend, government announced plans to terminate the deal, adding that a restrictive tender process will be used in selecting a new concessionaire by December 31, 2019.
Commenting on the issue, Dr. Steve Manteaw cautioned the government saying the decision if care is not taken will affect Ghana's developmental dealings with the US.
“Because of Tsobo [deceitful means to extort money] everything is in mess,” he said in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’.
Listen to interview…
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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If for nothing at all i am very happy that at last a government of this republic has been able to say f*ck off to the Americans.In the larger scheme of things what is198 million dollars?I believe the PDS group at least has a spokesperson so why are they not talking? Ghana has a crop of intellectuals who are totally bankrupt when it comes to morality, dignity, and love of country. All it takes is some group reaching them with a few thousand cedis and they will be all over the place ranting.
I believed that 95% of our political leaders are liars and ***barred word***, simple. No one should trust a Ghanaian politician. From the top to down, they speak liars to Ghanaians
Are we to believe that the financial sector clean up could have been done in a different way to save the pain? Is our government not making a mistake with the Nabco and other models which are making it the largest employer. As you pride yourself as a government that is creating jobs do you also consider the burden on the public purse? If you have to carry all the subsidy initiatives with the pressure to generate employment as a government, how are you going to survive? Why don't you off load some of this burden to the private sector, support them to employ rather than this continued display of father Christmas which is breaking your back to train and employ nurses,teachers, agriculturalists, pharmacists and doctors, who you cannot satisfy? Allow private participation in education, health, agriculture; allow the Churches (some of them are richer than the government) to take charge of some aspects of education; allow some chiefs (king Solomon has sponsored many students with scholarships, others can join) to take charge of some aspects of education; allow parents who can to take charge of the things they are ready to take (some are building dormitories and other educational infrastructure); encourage alumni involvement; of-load some of the fertilizer subsidies and extension services support to some of your IDIF and save yourself some breath. Asemsebe
... even Nana Addo's chamber is involved!!! this Nana Addo's state capture cannot happen bcos we r wide awake!!
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Please Dr. Manteaw! Ah! You have all of a sudden started talking like a serial-caller. What is happening to you? Is your term as a co-chair of PIAC about to end? Kindly redeem yourself.
THIS MAN IS PROPER CRIMINAL NDC MAN. LOOK AT HIS CRIMINAL FACE
JM will scrapped whatsup tax,Faceboo tax,talk tax. Any time you sent or received message .Nana borroliar is TAXING u. UNDER JM PRESIDENCY, 50% CST WILL SCRAPPED OR REVIEWED DOWNWARDS IN 100 DAYS. HASTAG # DROP THE WHATSUP TAX # DROP THE DATA TAX # DROP FACEBOOK TAX # DROP.THE TALK TAX UNDER JM IN 100 DAYS
IS MANTEAU OR WHATEVER HE IS CALLED REALLY A DR. IN WHAT FIELD IF I MAY ASK. IS HE A FULL BLOODED GHANAIAN OR A FOREIGN MIXED BLOOD. VERY ABSURD COMMENT. SO IN THE FACE OF CAWORDLY SUPER POWER MANIPULATION THE DR. IS ADVICING WE SHOULD NOT HOLD ON UNTO OUR OWN BUT CURVE IN TO AMERICA? ***barred word*** ***barred word*** OF THE CENTURY. GO DON THE NDC CLOTH. YES THAT IS WHERE YOU BELONG. NAUSEATING ***barred word***.
Dr. Manteyaw is part of those intellectuals in Ghana who are blocking the forward movement of Ghana just to please the white man. Can this so called academician deny the fact that PDS presented a fake insurance guarantee? Don't you know that there are also crooks in the USA who take bribes to present reports meant to favour the USA against other countries. What didn't we hear during the time of George ***barred word*** Jnr. concerning Iraq concealing weapons of mass destruction. They relied on this concocted report to invade Irag. At the end of the day what did they find? Nothing. Americans are not angels. This so called Dr. should go away with his colonial mentality. Shame on you