World Bank Country Director to Ghana, Pierre Frank Laporte, has responded to criticisms from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over his commentary on the signing of Ghana’s power purchase agreements.
The World Bank Country Director criticised the country for doing a poor job in concluding power purchase agreements signed between 2012 and 2023.
But the Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, John Jinapor says Mr. Laporte is veering off into local politics and must stay away. Former Power Minister, Dr Kwabena Donkor and others have also slammed him for commenting on a subject matter without carrying out proper research.
Mr Laporte in his farewell speech acknowledged the controversy occasioned by his comment, but did not seem bothered by it.
He said, “Talk of controversy, I know I’ve been at the center of some controversies recently, but that’s part of the job. I just wish the media would be a bit more frank and honest in the reporting but like I say, we work for that and we live for us,” he said.
The Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, John Jinapor strongly disagrees with Mr Laporte’s position on PPAs signed under Mr Mahama.
“We will finally wish to advise the World Bank Country Director, Mr Laporte to continue to work as a technocrat and not meddle himself in the field of politics. Mr Laporte, you are not a politician and when you are making such unsubstantiated comments, you must bear in mind that it has far-reaching ramifications on this country,” he stated.
He added that “Ghanaians are sick and tired of these unnecessary and flimsy blame games adopted by government and its high links.”
Clarifying the matter, he noted that former President John Mahama did no wrong in signing those arrangements and was in the country’s best interest.
He insists that despite the current government criticising former president Mahama for those contracts, it is still extending the contract duration of some of those contracts.
According to him, Mr Mahama’s records in the energy sector are unmatched, adding that Mr Mahama before leaving office ensured that there was a comprehensive reboot on the generation of power and the financial sector.
He went on to say that “even before Mr Mahama, most of the thermal plants in the country had capacity charges” adding that capacity charges are not something new.
He said the NPP government since assuming office has even signed PPAs that have “take or pay” or capacity charges embedded in them.
Meanwhile, Mr Laporte has described his stay in Ghana with his family for the past four years as a blessing.
He added that “As I prepare to leave the country soon, I hope that the restoration of the Ghanaian economy to the pre-crisis level will provide the government with the requisite fiscal space to increase investment in health.”
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