PDS retail license remains suspended – Pius Hadzide

A Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadidze has said the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) decision to allow Power Distribution Services (PDS) to undertake all activities related to electricity retail sale does not nullify the suspension of the concession agreement.

“The retail license given to the PDS remains suspended so PDS does not have the mandate and authority it had before when they were in possession of the license which has been withdrawn,” Mr. Hadzide said.

The PDS deal with the government was suspended for breaches in the company's obligation to Ghana.

There have been reports of a forged document being involved in the deal prompting the Government to begin a probe.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) first assumed the responsibility of running power distribution in Ghana's southern zone temporarily.

But in the latest development, the ECG and PDS have both agreed on some modalities to ensure that there are no disruptions in power supply and service delivery.

Mr. Hadidze on Eyewitness News explained that the suspension of the concession agreement still holds depsite the latest agreement.

“Workers of PDS will be working on authority and mandate of ECG and not PDS so we have to be clear in our minds that it is not as though the license that was temporarily suspended was restored.

Claims gov't officials conspired in PDS deal 'illogical' – Oppong Nkrumah

Meanwhile Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has described as illogical claims that some Government officials were conspiring to take a national asset in the Power Distribution Services (PDS) concession deal.

Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah says the government would not have called for a full-scale inquiry into the matter if there were intentions to take a public asset as part of the contract.

The Minority in Parliament   accused government officials   of trying to use the PDS concession agreement with Ghana to loot the country's coffers.

But the Minister urged the public to “dismiss that propaganda.”

“The claim by some of our political opponents that this was an attempt to conspire and take a national asset which has gone bad…that argument lacks logic and it is just one of those political things that people throw out there to try and create disaffection for an administration that is rather doing the right thing in the interest of the Republic of Ghana.”