Parliament is to only investigate the TSL-BOST deal if it is petitioned formally.
This is according to the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy Dr Kwabena Donkor.
Dr Kwabena Donkor says the committee will only investigate the matter if the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil distributors petitions parliament to do so.
He says the committee may also take the matter up if there is proof that the executive arm of government reneged on its responsibilities in signing the contract.
‘The executive arm of government has the first line of responsibility and until we are in the position to say the executive arm has reneged on its responsibilities I don’t think it is right for the committee to come in especially when we have not been asked to come in by the petitioners and the executive arm’.
The chamber had earlier petitioned President Mahama, the Chief of Staff and the Minister of Energy to intervene and get BOST to suspend the deal outsourcing the management of its petroleum storage facilities within the Accra Plains Depot, to TSL logistics Ghana Ltd, a Ghanaian subsidiary of a Nigerian-owned and based TSL Logistics Limited.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show this morning Dr Kwabena Donkor said though he is worried about the development especially at a time when Ghana is pushing for an increase in local content in the oil and gas sector, the committee will not investigate the matter till it is formally petitioned by the chamber.
‘Nobody has petitioned parliament on the matter, so on what basis do we come in, especially when we have a lot on our hands.
I can speak for my committee, remember, we are on recess but if a petition is referred to us we will work on it. We don’t go round looking for work to do, but if you believe the issues are serious enough and warrant our attention I believe the speaker will direct the committee to do that’.
Meanwhile the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil distributors is currently in court trying to secure an injunction on the execution of the deal.
By: Vivian Kai Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana