The deal with the independent power producer which was contracted by the then Mahama government to address the nation’s power crisis at the time, was criticized by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in opposition at the time.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pHldw0c9GZNyBqUYcxCOidF3glPf6Z3U”]They had argued that the arrangement was highly priced, and was not value for money.

The African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), also recently called on government to renegotiate the deal.

However, Citi News sources at the Energy Ministry suggests that the deal has been renegotiated to ensure value for money, and extended to twenty years.

It is unclear what the new terms are, but the company recently announced it will move from using Heavy Fuel Oil [HFO] to natural gas when it moves the vessel from Tema to Takoradi.

The Karpowership from Turkey has the capacity to supply 470 megawatts (MW) of power to Ghana.

‘Karpower barge deal makes no sense’ – Bawumia

In December 2015, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, then running mate to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said it “made no sense” for government to secure the power barge as an emergency solution to the power crisis, explaining that the deal did not give the country value for money.

The 225 megawatts power barge docked at the Tema Port in December 2015, to augment the shortfall in power supply at the time.

Per Dr. Bawumia’s analysis, “A 225 megawatts plant like the Karpower Plant that we are renting, will cost some 225 million dollars if we wanted to purchase it; and we will own it. Under the Karpower deal, we will pay for the power from the barge for the next ten years whether we use it or not. The African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) estimates that based on the capacity charge alone which is 5.6 percent per kilowatt hour, it will cost Ghana close to one billion dollars over the next ten years for the energy from the barge. This, however, excludes the cost of fuel which will require about 35,000 tones every month. After ten years, the barge will sail away and with this one billion dollar, we could have built a 1,000-megawatt plant for ourselves. Power from the barge will also cost at least twice what it cost to supply power from Takoradi. This really does not make sense.” he concluded.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The announment was made by President Nana Akufo-Addo, but Mr. Mutawakilu contends that “announcing the reduction when PURC hasn’t even done the major tariff review is taking over the work of PURC.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”cmje5mne9lbH9xDQjjYasTt72vxzxZIk”]”Government doesn’t direct PURC. Government gives input to PURC. That is why it [PURC] is independent, and I have continued to warn that they are treating PURC as an agency or department under the Ministry of Energy,” he said on Eyewitness News.

Before this assertion, Mr. Mutawakilu had claimed that proposals had not been made to the PURC to reduce electricity tariffs, as captured in the 2018 budget.

But responding to the claims, the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, said there were documents available to prove the proposal for reduction was sent as far back as November 2017.

Mutawakilu’s claims baseless

Also speaking on Eyewitness News, the Spokesperson for the Energy Ministry, Nana Damoah, said the Minority MP was only trying to smear the President.

“The President is not saying that he as President has unilaterally taken a decision to review prices, so I wonder what Mr. Adams Mutawakilu is talking about. There is absolutely no basis whatsoever for him to be attempting to make the claims he is making.”

According to Mr. Damoah, the President would not have made the announcement without “knowing the state of all of these processes and procedures.

He also reminded that it was clear in the budget statement that these were proposals and according to him, the PURC acknowledged receipt of proposals and “kicked into gear its own processes.”

“The president has done nothing but reinstate that point that was made in the budget of 2018 that was read in November 2017,” Mr. Damoah said.

The government announced that it had recommended the review of electricity tariffs in the country to the PURC.

It said it is hoping for an average reduction of 13 percent in electricity tariffs for residential consumers, whilst it is targeting a 21 percent drop for industrial consumers.

Reducing electricity tariffs was a major promise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2016 elections.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is to sensitize students on the fundamentals of Ghana’s Energy sector with key focus on the petroleum industry.

In all, 12 senior high schools will be visited by the end of the tour.

The team will also provide students with career guidance and employment opportunities in the industry. The move is part of the ministry’s Gender Mainstreaming in the Energy Sector Project, which is aimed at increasing female participation in Ghana’s Energy Sector.

The first phase of the project focuses on a sensitization and career guidance programme in the Petroleum and Power sector at Senior High Schools across the country.

The sensitization programme takes the form of forums across selected Senior High Schools (SHS) preferably female SHS in the 10 regions.

This is to whip up enthusiasm of female students and encourage them to choose courses relevant to the industry at the tertiary level.

Selected schools to be visited in June 2017, in the Western, Central and Volta Regions, are Nkuroful, Kikam, Nsein, Archbishop Porter Girls all in the Western Region, Ghana National, Wesley Girls, Holy Child and Mfantsiman Girls also in the Central Region and, Ola Girls, Mawuli SHS, Keta Secondary and Angloga SHS.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This according to him, is part of government’s attempt to prevent fuel related accidents that have hit the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4zqjV06Be5nt3BSx8UBWJguGUuWF0Gfz”]Speaking at the Luncheon Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce (Ghana), last week, Mr. Agyarko stated that, “the Ministry is currently reviewing a draft LPG Policy which seeks to provide direction on marketing and distribution of LPG in a safe and efficient manner, and facilitate an increase in access to LPG nationwide”.

Fuel explosions in the country over the past two years, have been on the increase.

The June 3rd 2015 explosion amidst flood, killed over 150 persons. The La Trade Fair explosion also killed 12 persons, whilst the Takoradi gas explosion also left 152 persons sustaining various degrees of injury.

Mr. Agyarko continued that “the new marketing and distribution structure we hope would curtail some of the safety related incidents that have caused loss of life in the country in recent times”.

Some of the incidents have been attributed to poor safety standards, whilst others are said to have occurred from negligence.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Agyarko said this would address the country’s huge sanitation and health problems, as well as create thousands of sustainable jobs, clean energy and improve healthy agriculture practice across the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cArrMGa4yLoJew8UcuPO9IOmUZwf7JHX”]He made the call on Tuesday in a speech read on his behalf during the commissioning of the Safisana Waste to Energy Treatment Plant at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.

The project is supported by the African Development Bank and the government of Netherlands.

He stated that such a decree must be supported with the needed investments from all related Ministries.

The Energy Minister announced that, his outfit would consider the allocation of at least 10 percent of financing facilities for rural electrification under the National Electrification Scheme to renewable energy-based mini-grids, and standalone solar home systems on islands, lakeside and sparsely populated communities nationwide.

He noted that, priority would be given to increasing local content and participation in the renewable energy sector, adding that waste-to-energy would also receive intervention in the National Renewable Energy Master Plan (NREMP), with massive boost through the legally binding commitment.

Mr. Agyarko gave the assurance that the government would continue with ongoing renewable energy projects by the previous administration particularly the 200,000 National Rooftop Solar Programme, the SECO funded mini-grids for the Ada-East District, and the AfDB off-grid project under GEDAP III, among others.

Households must have toilet facilities

Also at the programme, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said the treatment of human excreta must start with the provision of toilet facilities for all households as according to him, about 75 per cent of households resort to open defecation.

Prof Frimpong-Boateng said it was about time separation of waste policies were enforced to ensure that organic raw materials were made available for treatment.

He gave the assurance that he would push for segregation of waste at the seat of government, ministries, departments and agencies.

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Source: GNA

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These briefings will outline the challenges, if any, confronting the power sector, but will also announce plans and solutions to resolve them.

[contextly_sidebar id=”16pukOoKhXBZVLnLy0LOWat0Pg9OGZyt”]Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Energy, Michael Opam, indicated that these briefings will also aid planning and enhance cooperation between the ministry and Ghanaians.

He explained that “we [Energy Ministry] have resolved that we are going to be as transparent as possible with Ghanaians. Because of that, we are instituting a regular power briefing for Ghanaians at least every week or fortnightly, so that Ghanaians will know the state of the power sector at every time.”

“It helps us to plan, it helps us to understand and know what the problems are, and I think it is good to be very transparent with Ghanaians. As long as we are very transparent, they will know whatever problem we are facing and therefore we will work together to resolve the problem.”

Mr. Opam also noted that, these briefings will rope in Ghanaians into the management of the energy sector because “on the demand side there are many things that consumers can also do to really assist us in assuring the reliability of power.”

Energy Ministry’s assurances

Mr. Opam’s comments came on the back of fears the power crisis that had ravaged parts of the country over the last five years, had returned following incidence of widespread power outages.

This compelled the Ministry of Energy on two occasions to give assurances and deadlines for the normalisation of the power situation.

The Minister, Boakye Agyarko, had said the unstable power situation in the country would return to some level of normalcy from Saturday, February 25, as the recent unplanned power cuts experienced in various parts of Accra and other parts of the country were as a result of technical works on some of the country’s power plants.

But yesterday [Monday], the Energy Ministry gave another assurance that power supply would normalise by the beginning of today [Tuesday].

The ministry said a successful tie-in operation coupled with the procurement of fuel and increased power supply from Cote d’Ivoire, among other measures, would stabilise the power situation.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Boakye Agyarko was named Energy Minister-nominee by President Akufo-Addo last week.

While announcing his position, Akufo-Addo described Boakye Agyarko as a man with enormous experience in energy sector contracts.

Speaking to Citi News, Emmanual Agyarko said his brother is qualified for the new job.

“I am very happy for my brother. He is a very hard worker, very diligent; he has over the period studied and understands the issues. I believe that from his experience and exposure together with all the people he will meet there and in government provide some smart solutions. I think he would contribute his quota so that this government succeeds. He is my big brother and I think he deserves it,” he added.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo in all named 36 ministers which he pleaded with Parliament to expedite their vetting and approval.

About Boakye Agyarko
Boakye Agyarko is 60 years old.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon; an Advanced Professional Certificate in Banking from the American Institute of Banking and an MBA in Financial Economics from the Pace University, New York.

He held a Vice President position at the Bank of New York, in New York, and in over 20 years at the Bank, he worked at senior levels in various departments, including Operations Management and Analysis, Product Development, Global Network Managements, International Banking and Asset Management and the Y2K Management Group.

His responsibilities in these various departments and positions included international trade finance, loan syndications, asset securitization and structured finance.

He is a member of the American Economic Association, and an Associate of the American Institute of Bankers. He served as the National Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party for the 2012 Elections, and served as Policy Advisor for the President’s 2016 electioneering campaign.

He is a Consultant to Capital Economics and Investments, a start-up economic analysis and investments group in Accra, Ghana.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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Nana Addo made the announcement on Tuesday when he presented the first list of his ministerial appointments of thirteen (13) people, and named Boakye Agyarko as minister designate for the merged Ministry of Energy.

The President said having one individual to have oversight responsibility of the entire sector with the support of a formidable supporting staff, will produce the results needed.

He expressed the hope in the ability of Mr. Agyarko to lead a team of competent persons who can tackle the challenges facing the energy sector.

“There were all kinds of problems about the duplication of activities and the need for us to rationalize the infrastructure our energy sector. So I think that Boakye Agyarko is in the position to undertake that task and do it successfully, so he’s the one that I am recommending to parliament for approval. We are pitting back petroleum and power to have one person head the various institutions.”

The Ministry of Power was created in 2014 by Ghana’s former President John Mahama, in the heat of the worsened power crisis.

Dr. Kwabena Donkor, MP for Pru East and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, was made the Minister of Power, but he resigned a year after he failed on his own promise to tackle the deepened power crisis at the time, christened ‘dumsor’.

At the time, the Office of the President explained that the new Ministry was to bring about a sharper focus on the generation, supply and efficiency of power to match the growth the economy was experiencing.
With this new development, the former Ministry of Power is defunct, to make way for the Ministry of Energy, which will deal with both petroleum and power issues.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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