Supreme Court dismisses Karpowership suit against AG

The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juabeng South, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah praying the court to annul government’s contract with Karpower.

The court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse did not give reasons for the dismissal in open court but indicated they will file their entire ruling with the Supreme Court registry.

The member of  parliament filed the suit against the Attorney-General, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ecobank at the Supreme Court for going ahead with the Karpower agreement without recourse to parliament.

Dr. Assibey Yeboah was seeking the constitutionality of the Karpower agreement which will cost the taxpayer $100 million to enable the government ‘import’ 450 megawatts of power from Turkey to offset the current energy supply deficit.

Per  the agreement , Karpowership was to build an emergency power barge for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to ease the power challenges in the country.

Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong
The suit first came to light when the MP for Effutu, Alex Afenyo Markin, who filed the suit on behalf of, Mr. Assibey, announced the matter on the Floor of Parliament.

The Minority in Parliament insisted that  government seeks parliamentary approval  before proceeding with the deal but government argued otherwise.

GNPC justifies $100 Karpower investment
The Karpowrship deal has been guaranteed by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the GNPC, Alex Mould earlier mounted a strong defence for the Corporation's decision to undertake the project.

He downplayed suggestions that his outfit has breached its mandate by undertaking some projects in areas considered to be outside its jurisdiction.

CEO of GNPC – Alex Mould
Concerned staff of GNPC are reported to have forwarded a petition to President John Mahama demanding the removal of the acting CEO, following the move, arguing that, he had over-exposed the financial situation of GNPC by providing guarantees for major projects such as the KarPower Barge.

Speaking on the allegations, Mr. Mould noted that the guarantee was actually in line with their mandate as an enabler of the petroleum industry in Ghana.

“The GNPC is not over extended. GNPC is well capitalized and GNPC has a mandate to ensure that it is an enabler in the industry especially for its mandate of disposing the petroleum it generated from the ground,” he stated.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana