The man who led the committee that investigated the controversial Ameri Power deal, Philip Addison, has disclosed that per diem for their trip to Dubai was paid by government.<\/p>\n
According to him, Ameri Power upon whose request they traveled to Dubai, only took care of their plane tickets and hotel bills.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”AYggGvnXuQYMPAUFLw0cCnFxpY5JBBWk”]\u201cOur per diem was given to us here, by the Minister of Energy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Three of the 17-member committee went to Dubai in a bid to renegotiate the agreement which the Akufo-Addo government believes was bloated by about $150 million.<\/p>\n
But the Minority in Parliament rebuked the committee for accepting Ameri\u2019s hospitality offer claiming it could have influenced the final report.<\/p>\n
They also accused Mr. Addison\u2019s committee of traveling on first class ticket, and lodging at a plush hotel in Dubai at the expense of Ameri. They also alleged the committee members were given per diem by Ameri.<\/p>\n
But Mr. Addison on Metro TV\u2019s Good Evening Ghana on Tuesday, said such was not the case.<\/p>\n
He further explained that, Ameri\u2019s offer did not influence <\/a><\/strong><\/span>them in any way.<\/p>\n \u201cThe delegation that went to Dubai was a government delegation of three. We were supposed to be four, but the Chief Executive of VRA who was supposed to be part of it couldn\u2019t attend because of pressing issues. The payment of these tickets had nothing to do with us. I didn\u2019t go and negotiate for ticket payments. The way it\u2019s being said it\u2019s like I went to Ameri and requested for money to buy tickets. I was sitting in my office and I got the ticket and I got the visa on my phone. So I didn\u2019t go and procure this thing,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Minority to petition CHRAJ over Ameri-funded Dubai trip<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has threatened to petition<\/strong><\/a><\/span> the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the matter.<\/p>\n The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson\u00a0in a Citi News interview described the committee’s acceptance of the hospitality offer as \u201cembarrassing, unethical and shameful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am going to take this matter to CHRAJ to probe the committee. I am going to petition CHRAJ for them to probe this company,\u201d Mr. Ato Forson stated.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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