Minority 'shoots' GNPC Boss

Edward Doe-Adjaho and Hon Joe Ghartey

Even before Nana Boakye Asafu-Adjaye convinces President John Evans Atta Mills that he is capable of heading the money-spinning Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Minority in Parliament has for the second time in two weeks asked for his immediate removal from office.

“We know the President is the appointing authority, but we humbly appeal to him to reconsider the appointment of the Chief Executive of GNPC in the best interest of the country,” the Minority urged.

Nana Asafu-Adjaye, who was appointed by President Mills as the acting Chief Executive of the GNPC barely a month ago, was a subject of heated controversy between the Majority and the Minority on the floor of the House last Friday, with the latter arguing that his continuous stay in office has the potential of placing him in a conflict of interest position.

Debate over Nana Asafu-Adjaye ensued when a report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Petroleum Agreement among the Republic of Ghana, GNPC, Vanco Ghana Ltd & Lukoil Overseas Ghana Ltd was laid before Parliament for approval.

Minority MPs were of the considered view that after going through marathon negotiations with GNPC on behalf of Vanco Ghana as Country Director in the Agreement for oil exploration in deep waters of Ghana, it would not be fair for parties in the oil industry for Nana Asafu-Adjaye to suddenly cross to GNPC to be confirmed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

The issue of conflict of interest and call for the dismissal of the acting GNPC Boss was first raised on the floor of Parliament on June 12, compelling the Speaker of Parliament, Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, to refer the matter to the Mines and Energy Committee for consideration.

After consideration, members of the Committee could not reach a consensus on the matter, generating further debate on the floor of the House last Friday.

Nana Asafu-Adjaye had prior to his appointment as GNPC Boss, worked as the Country Manager for Houston-based Vanco Energy Company Limited, working for the company as a key negotiator in the agreement.

He reportedly terminated his contract with his former employers on May 29, 2009 whilst his letter of appointment for the new position was issued by the Ministry of Energy on May 28, 2009 in a manner that Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, indicated was questionable.

“There are other players in the oil industry and they would never cease being worried because they would know that they would be dealing with a Chief Executive who has connections with one of the companies,” submitted Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who is also the MP for Suame in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.

Among those who strongly supported their leader with contributions were MPs for Navrongo Central and ranking member on Mines and Energy, Joseph Kofi Adda; Dr. Matthew Prempeh, Manhyia, Kumasi; and Joe Ghartey, Esikadu/Ketan in the Western Region.

Quoting Matthew 27: 24, Hon. Joe Ghartey said, “We at the Minority side have washed our hands, we support the agreement as a Parliament but we have raised the red-flag that there is the potential of conflict interest. We must protect the interest of the people and not individuals”.

He indicated that Minority MPs do not want the potential omissions or commissions of the acting GNPC Boss to hang on their necks.

However, Edward Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker and MP for Avenor Ave, stated that there were no clear provisions in the country's statutes regarding conflict of interest, arguing it would be unfair to dismiss the acting GNPC Boss in that regard.

Concluding, Majority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Hon. Alban Bagbin thanked members for unanimously approving the report of the Mines and Energy Committee on the Agreement.

He noted that the only disagreement was the issue of conflict of interest, and called on the House to lead as the Legislative body in making clearer laws on conflict of interest in the country.

By Awudu Mahama