PDS SAGA: NDC’s conduct is embarrassing – Deputy Energy Minister

A Deputy Energy Minister, William Owuraku Aidoo has expressed disappointment in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its conduct in the Power Distribution Service (PDS) saga that hit the nation.

According to him, the NDC’s  concern on  the PDS concession agreement and the reassignment of shares from Meralco to Meridian Power Ventures Limited is embarrassing.

The NDC held a press conference on October 17, accusing the government of giving out ECG assets to a Chinese company, Meridian Power Ventures Limited which was formed barely a year ago.

According to them, Meridian Power Ventures Limited lacks the requisite experience and collateral to handle a national asset like the Electricity of Ghana, therefore demands answers to the following;

1. When was Meridian Power Ventures limited formed?
2. Did Meridian Power Ventures limited participate in the ECG concession bid process?
3. What technical or financial capacity does Meridian Power Ventures limited have relative to Power Distribution?
4. Was their technical and financial capacity assessed as part of the bid process?
5. Was Meridian Power Ventures limited part of the shareholding structure of PDS as captured in the ECG-PDS Concession Agreement which was presented to and approved by Parliament?
6. When were they introduced into the PDS deal and under what authority?
7. Is the MCC and the Parliament of Ghana privy to their involvement in the PDS concession?
8. Since when did they assume the right and power to write letters to MIDA and call for Board meetings of PDS?

The NDC argues, the introduction of Meridian Power Ventures Limited is wrong and suspects it may be the government’s way of diverting people’s attention from the substantive issue of how fraudulent the PDS agreement was.

But according to the Deputy Minister, Meridian Power Ventures Limited is a subsidiary of Meralco, therefore the agreement with Meralco still binds Meridian Power Ventures Limited.

“Their augment that Meridian was formed last year and government officials are conniving with its owners to buy shares in PDS is false. Meridian is a subsidiary of Meralco and this was stated in the document presented to parliament. They would have known if they have read,” he said.

The Deputy Energy Minister argued that, it is either the opposition party wants to deliberately lie to Ghanaians or they genuinely did not read the reports so do not know.

“The NDC’s conduct in this whole issue is embarrassing, it is propaganda coupled with ignorance” he said.