Kwadwo Poku, the Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR), has expressed strong disapproval of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), asserting that he would have terminated the CEO if he were the president.
The critique stems from the recent spate of power outages in the country, rekindling memories of the infamous “Dumsor” era that plagued Ghana in 2015. Poku pointedly accused the GNPC Boss of negligence, citing the failure to address warnings from the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAGPCo) regarding potential pipeline shutdowns due to unpaid debts.
In an interview on The Big Issue on Citi TV, Poku emphasized his concerns, stating, “I have a problem with GNPC. GNPC is our national oil company. They have money. For nothing at all they have the JOHL money. The 7% Anadarko shares that we bought. That account receives about $70 million every lifting.”
He further urged the President to scrutinize CEOs of state-owned enterprises, emphasizing that those who do not fulfill their responsibilities should be held accountable. Poku specifically criticized the GNPC CEO’s absence during critical periods, stating, “And every time we have been in darkness, the CEO of GNPC is not in the country.”
The INSTEPR Executive Director challenged the GNPC CEO to refute the allegations publicly. He argued that if a warning letter about a potential pipeline shutdown was ignored, leading to subsequent disruptions, the responsible CEO should face consequences, including termination.
Meanwhile, Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer has assured the public that the challenges leading to the recent power outages have been fully addressed. He explained that the Ministry of Finance disbursed $10 million to WAPCo for gas supply, ensuring the commitment to uninterrupted power supply.
Mr. Mercer clarified that the power outages resulted from GNPC’s obligations to WAPCo, which were initially addressed with partial payments. However, the Ministry of Finance approved an additional $10 million to settle the outstanding debt, resolving the issue that led to the recent disruptions in power supply.
