Over the last couple of days, conversations in the media landscapes have shifted slightly to a scandal at the Ghana National Petroleum Cooperation (GNPC). This was after Hon. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa revealed that the minister for energy inflated the cost of astro turfs constructed by GNPC by over 500%.
GNPC responded to the NDC MP in a press release also in the media. According to the GNPC, Ablakwa’s assertion were misleading and mispresentation of facts.
But Ablakwa has clapped back at GNPC. In his response which was sighted on Facebook by CitizenOne, Ablakwa described GNPC as a dishonest office.
According to him, the claim by GNPC that the projects were ongoing and any amount spent and captured in the report is a part payment cannot be true. He walked his followers through a number of astro turfs which have been completed and were in use. He added that the figure quoted by GNPC in its presser and that of the minister as actual cost of each astro turf contradict each other. It therefore means that there are different figures for the same project; the minister, PIAC and GNPC figures. This cannot be trusted. He advised GNPC to take steps to redeem its lost credibility. Check part of Ablakwa’s post below. 
“The contents of the press release in issue are most contemptuous and outrightly insulting.
It is absolutely disingenuous and downright ridiculous for the GNPC Foundation to claim that I “misrepresented facts” and “failed to appreciate the PIAC report in its entirety.”
The GNPC Foundation’s press release is certainly the most dishonest and discredited statement I have ever come across.
It is imperative that as public officials, we are always reminded of the obligation to accord the people we serve utmost respect, and to conduct ourselves with dignity, sincerity and integrity.
Let’s be clear, the 2021 PIAC report was published in April 2022; with PIAC Chair, Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong declaring in his foreword that they have thoroughly assessed the books from January to December 2021.
I do not need to remind readers that the compilation of PIAC annual reports is in compliance with a statutory mandate under Section 56(d) of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815).
The rather laughable effort by the GNPC Foundation to seek refuge in reporting timelines and progress payments based on project milestones in an ex post facto attempt at rationalization is simply dishonest and untenable.
Indeed, nowhere in the 2021 PIAC report is it stated that the project costs provided are part payments or progress payments based on project milestones.
The GNPC Foundation’s claim creates the erroneous impression that all the 30 Astro Turf projects captured in the 2021 PIAC report are ongoing projects at various stages of completion.
What the GNPC Foundation would not want Ghanaians to discover is the incontrovertible fact that a good number of these Astro Turfs contained in the PIAC report were long completed before the 2021 PIAC report was compiled.
Let’s consider a few examples below:
Tarkwa— completed and commissioned on 5th December 2020 by Hon. Mireku Duker
[see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ko-j1S_Dg]
Atonsu Asokwa— completed and commissioned on 16th November 2020 by Hon. Patricia Appiagyei.
[see: https://starrfm.com.gh/2020/11/gnpc-and-mp-for-asokwa-hand-over-new-atonsu-astro-pitch-to-co]
Sekondi Takotadi- completed and commissioned on 29th November 2020 by President Akufo Addo.
[see: https://citisportsonline.com/2020/11/30/one-constituency-one-astroturf-nana-akufo-addo-commissions-sekondi-methodist-park-photos/]
There were 7 others which were completed and commissioned in 2021.
From the irrefutable evidence provided above, how can any institution with the slightest care for its reputation and image churn out such palpable falsehood.
For example, what could be the project milestone during a 2021 assessment for a Atonsu Asokwa Astro Turf long completed, commissioned and in use since November 2020?
Again, how could a Tarkwa Astro Turf project long completed before 2021 be awaiting project milestones in a 2021 PIAC report?
For projects awarded at different times between 2018 and 2020; it is most bizarre that as many as 22 of them those completed about a year ago would all be reporting the same project milestone and payment of GHS319,813.00 in a report released in April, 2022.
Obviously, these are public officials who consider themselves to be the smartest Ghanaians alive, and therefore do not credit the Ghanaian public they work for with any scintilla of intelligence or discernment.
The other blatant falsehood is the claim that all Astro Turf projects awarded between 2019 and 2020 were awarded at a cost of GH1,599,065.00. This assertion doesn’t align with the Energy Minister’s July 5, 2022 parliamentary response to my question which puts the Apenkwa Astro Turf awarded in 2019 at a contract sum of GHS1,275,624.25 and the Asokwa Ashanti Astro Turf awarded in 2019 at a total cost of GHS1,267,257.20.
Obviously, transparency and accountability are missing commodities in this sleazy, messy Astro Turf debacle.
So far, no reasonable explanation for the colossal GHS32.5million discrepancy.
Finally, I do take judicial notice that the other cardinal concern I raised relating to government’s criteria in selecting beneficiary communities considering the naked discrimination in flagrant violation of the 1992 Constitution has been conveniently avoided and remains unaddressed.
Fortunately, Parliament shall in due course have the opportunity to further scrutinize these matters and pursue a telescopic review of the conduct of public officials associated with this sordid affair.”
Surely this brouhaha does not intend to end anytime soon.
Take to the comments section to share your thoughts on this developing scandal.
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