It’s too early to call for Energy Minister’s resignation – MP

Vice Chairman of the Mines and Energy committee of parliament, Duker George Mireku, says it is too early to call for the resignation of Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko over the controversial renegotiated Ameri deal. Mr. Agyarko has come under intense pressure to resign or be sacked for allegedly misleading and causing an “embarrassment” to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the new deal which has widely been condemned The President gave an executive approval for the renegotiated Ameri deal, a decision which was reportedly rescinded after it emerged that the president was misled into approving the deal. Read: Akufo-Addo approves Mytilineous to take over Ameri deal There were also reports that Ameri Energy had no knowledge of the said renegotiation deal which would have seen the originaal $510 million Ameri deal extended from its original five years to 15 years with the government committing over $700 million to it. Read: Renegotiated Ameri deal to be cancelled? Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show on the back of calls for the Energy minister to resign, Mr. Mireku said there is the need for careful consideration regarding the Energy Minister’s position. “I believe it is too early. We should take our time in taking such decisions. If it is coming from the headquarters of NDC, I wouldn’t blame them; that is their duty, that is the essence of being in opposition and creating tensions in government,” Mr. Mireku said. According to the Tarkwa Nsuaem MP, a lot of people are commenting on the issue without going through details of the deal. The supposed amended power deal with a new company, Mytilineous, was expected to cost the country in excess of $1 billion. Among the people who have asked the minister to resign are the Africa Center for Energy Policy, the president of IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, a financial analyst, Joe Jackson and editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper Ben Ephson as well as the minority in Parliament. READ: Sack and prosecute Boakye Agyarko over failed new Ameri deal – Copec Public outcry has also been huge, which many believe, led to the suspension of the new deal by President Akufo-Addo. By Barikisu Lamile Lamptey| 3news.com| Ghana  ]]>