Ghana Gas Company accepts investigation challenge
Daniel Nonor
The controversies surrounding the operations of the Ghana Gas Company are far from over, after the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas accused it of violating the procurement laws.
Dr. Steve Manteaw, Chairman of the Civil Society Platform, made the allegations last Thursday during the IEA encounter with President John Mahama, and called for investigations into the matter.
The President, in response, assured all of his commitment to ensure that Ghana gets value for money in the quest to build a robust gas industry.
The President said he would set up an independent auditor to carry out an appropriate audit on the allegations raised.
The President added that based on the outcomes of the report, if the concerns of the civil society groups are genuine his government would not hesitate to embrace the recommendations therein.
The Ghana Gas Company has since responded to the allegations by the civil society group.
According to the company, the group failed to cross check its facts before making the allegations.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana Gas Company, Dr. Sipa Yankey, has also reiterated his willingness to open its books to any group or individual to cross check their information.
Board Chairman of the Ghana National Gas Company Dr. Kwesi Botchwey also maintains that there have not been any hidden procurement practices at the Ghana Gas Company.
According to him, every act of procurement the company undertakes has been undertaken in strict accordance with the country’s laws, and thus accepted the challenge for an investigation to be conducted into the company’s activities.
“We have absolutely no problem with any investigations.” Dr. Kwesi Botchwey noted.
But information gathered by The Chronicle indicates that the simmering issues at the Ghana Gas company are more of a struggle for control over the company.
Read The Chronicle for the inside story of the Ghana Gas Company and issues arising in the subsequent editions.
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