The Executive Director of the Centre for Extractives and Development Africa, Samuel Bekoe, has delivered a forceful critique of Parliament’s oversight role in Ghana’s power crisis, alleging a critical failure in the procurement of the Kpong power plant. Mr. Bekoe contends that the circumstances surrounding the project – particularly allegations of payments facilitating approval and selection – expose deep-seated weaknesses within the country’s procurement and governance frameworks. Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV, he underscored the use of emergency procurement procedures during the power crisis, arguing that this relaxed governance process created opportunities for critical checks and balances to be bypassed. According to Mr. Bekoe, the severe power shortages at the time fostered a situation where standard governance processes were temporarily disregarded in the name of urgency. He stated, ‘The key issue has exposed the fact that most times, we base ourselves on an emergency to undertake certain procurement that is genuinely dangerous.’ He emphasized the need for Parliament and other state institutions to bolster their oversight mechanisms to prevent the circumvention of established procurement safeguards. Mr. Bekoe further questioned Ghana’s continued reliance on emergency procurement in the power sector, asserting that the country possesses sufficient data to anticipate future electricity demand and plan effectively. He expressed frustration that authorities frequently delayed tackling shortages until they were confronted with the consequences – often before generating enough power, distributing it, or even providing sufficient transformers. ‘We almost always wait until we tell ourselves that, oh, we are not generating enough, we are not distributing enough, we don’t have enough transformers,’ he lamented. Mr. Bekoe pointed out that authorities often pursued urgent procurement arrangements under certificates of urgency, leaving stakeholders with limited scrutiny of the process. He asserted that the process is not allowed to play out. Mr. Bekoe’s comments come amidst renewed scrutiny of the AKSA power agreement following the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States. Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor has vehemently denied any involvement in the bribery allegations linked to the case. Through his lawyers, Dr. Donkor has stated that he did not request or receive any money from Mr. Berko or authorize anyone to demand money on his behalf. Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has commenced investigations into the Ghanaian dimension of the case, including efforts to trace funds and assets potentially linked to the alleged bribery scheme. EOCO said the asset tracing and recovery exercise forms part of its investigation following Mr. Berko’s conviction in the United States. The investigation’s scope is intended to establish the full extent of the alleged scheme and to prevent further illicit activities. The case highlights a concerning trend of emergency procurement arrangements, potentially undermining established governance structures and raising questions about accountability within the public sector.”” ,
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Source: Adom Online
