The Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah has lashed out at former Attorney Generall and current flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo for failing to defend the country over the drill ship saga a decade ago.
The drill ship, Discoverer 511, belonging to the Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) was sold to defray a 19.5 million dollar judgment debt owed Societe-General Bank in 2001.
Akufo-Addo, under whose tenure the drill ship was sold was cited for causing to the state in the Sole Commission’s report, the commission established by the National Democratic Congress government to investigate judgment debt the state had paid over the years.
The report also directed the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to also investigate K. T. Hammond, a former Deputy Energy Minister on how he disbursed US$900,000 which was left after the sale of the drill ship.
Speaking at the Meet the Press session in Accra on Monday, Dr. Omane Boamah accused Akufo-Addo of not defending the state hence the sale of the drill ship.
“Talking about judgment debt, Nana’s failure to defend Ghana’s interest in the case of the Ghana National Petroleum Drillship’s matter Discovery 511 also has serious implications and brings into sharp focus his personal lack of commitment, dexterity and competence to pursue the interest of the state and the tax payer. And this is why we have maintained that it serves not fruitful purpose if we play political football with judgment debt.”
Dr. Omane Boamah at the event touted President John Mahama’s achievements in fighting corruption and preventing further judgment debt payments in Ghana.
“…The NPP led by Nana Akufo-Addo and their surrogates will not win such a contest because President Mahama’s record on fighting judgment debt is superior and better. Tell me, in all the things that they have said, where have they nailed president Mahama right at the centre in any of these matters. The slightest attempt could not be sustained at the Supreme Court and it was expunged,” he added.
The Minister also hinted that government has saved the state from incurring close to one billion dollars in judgment debt payments
“President Mahama’s government has fought cases of judgment debts and potential judgment debts more vigorously than previous governments. In less than four years we have successfully defended and saved Ghana over one billion dollars…”
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
