We’ve always been worried; we knew something was wrong since 2015 – ACEP on AKSA power deal

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has long expressed reservations about Ghana's agreement with Turkish energy company AKSA Enerji, dating back to 2015. This concern escalated following the US conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko, who was implicated in a bribery scheme involving Ghanaian government officials and AKSA power plant project approvals.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, ACEP Executive Director Benjamin Boakye emphasized that the organization has consistently raised questions about the negotiation of the AKSA agreement and other Independent Power Producer (IPP) contracts. Boakye explained that the worries stemmed primarily from the structure of certain power contracts, especially those under Ghana's emergency power procurement arrangements.

However, he acknowledged that the organization could not have predicted the severity of alleged financial inducements in influencing decisions related to these agreements. While acknowledging Ghana's urgent need for power solutions during the crisis, Boakye stressed that such measures should not jeopardize the nation's interests.

He emphasized that the conviction of Berko should prompt a comprehensive review of Ghana's power procurement procedures to ensure the protection of the country's financial interests. Boakye called for revisiting the AKSA agreements, stating that the recent developments offer an opportunity to scrutinize the contract negotiation process and assess whether adequate safeguards were implemented.