The Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr. Steve Manteaw is alleging that the one billion dollar cost of the Atuabo Gas plant in the Western Region was overpriced by 40 million dollars.
According to him, the Chinese company which undertook the project, SINOPEC, engaged in fraudulent activities in the execution of the project. Dr. Manteaw told Citi News that Ghana Revenue Authority which is investigating the matter has so far recouped about $15 million from the company for bloating the contract sum.
“What for me is so most worrying is the fact that through my investigations I discovered that a particular plant that was imported by SINOPEC for the project was overpriced by as much as $40 million and this did not catch the attention of our public authorities. And even though I raised the concern as far back as 2013, nobody took serious notice of it.”
“Again what I find to be so disturbing about this whole development is that Ghana Gas granted some tax concessions to SINOPEC which is not within its mandate. Because such mandates lies with Parliament which is not unusual but when this happens you need to go through the sector minister to come to Parliament for ratification. We did not seek Parliamentary ratification until 2016. The project was actually completed in 2014 so how do you come to Parliament in 2016 seeking ratification for tax exemptions for a project that is long been completed. That reduces the role of Parliament to rubber stamping,” Mr. Manteaw opined.
He further noted that he was surprised to discover that “Parliament approved the [$152 million] tax waivers without seeing the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract with contains the fiscal exemptions.”
Background
SINOPEC was to construct the Atuabo Gas plant at Ellembelle in the Western Region to provide gas to meet the energy demands of the nation.
The $1 billion project which received stiff opposition from some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament was later completed in 2014 and commissioned in 2015.
It was producing over 140 million cubic feet of gas per day to the Aboadze Thermal Plant at the time.
Logistics from Dubai
According to Mr. Manteaw as part of the processes of procuring logistics, pipes and equipment for the gas project, SINOPEC set up an offshore company in Dubai by name FAZ which they procured the materials from.
“Because our authorities did not follow through these procurement activities of SINOPEC, the prices that were quoted were not fair market prices and so Ghana was shortchanged. I’m happy that the GRA has acted lately and investigated the matter. I’ve cooperated with them and given them as much as information that I have.”
“Even though the investigations are inconclusive yet, I’m informed that as much as GHc15million has so far been recovered in additional taxes and penalties imposed against SINOPEC,” he added.
Source: New Crusading Guide
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@ Papa did you benefit from the deal. This is what we know best of tagging institution against political parties to deflate authentic allegations. It is not only your money or NDc money rather the money belongs to tax payers.
Attention to all the radio and television presenters. Please, when allegations of such nature are made by some of this think tang dont present them to as as the absolute truth or fact and make conclusion that somebody has done wrong. This think tang are political organizations which drawn their support from political parties. dont also forget that this individuals are also consultants and have major interest in all the projects we carry out. this complex situation is making our expect such as Dr. Manteaw and many others pick and chose what project to taint black and white.
DR. MANTEAW MUST BE COHERENT IN HIS PRESENTATION ON THIS MATTER AND MENTION THE SPECIFIC WRONG IN THIS PROJECT AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IN ONE BREATH HE SAID SOME COMPONENT WAS OVER PRICE WITHOUT MENTIONING THE SPECIFIC COMPONENT FOR US TO MAKE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS TO ASCERTAIN THE TRUTH. HE ALSO SAID SOME HELICOPTERS WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AT THE PLANT ARE NOT THERE SO SOMEBODY HAS STOLEN THE MONEY. THIS ALLEGATIONS ARE BEING THROWN OUT JUST FOR ONE PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO MAKE FORMAL PRESIDENT MAHAMAH EVIL. I CHALLENGED DR. MANTEAW TO MENTION THE NAME OF THE SUPPOSE OVER PRICE COMPONENT AND HOW HE CAME BY THE PRICE. THE KIND OF POLITICS THEY ARE DOING IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT WILL NOT INURE TO ANYBODY BENEFIT. SO LONG AS WE DONT HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE RESOURCES TO DO SOME OF THIS THINGS ON OUR OWN WE SHALL FALL ON THIS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE COUNTRIES AND THEIR PERSONNEL TO DO THIS PROJECTS HOWEVER IF THEY FIND ANY FRAUD THEY SHOULD RAISE THEM AS GOOD CITIZENS BUT NOT HIDE BEHIND POLITICIANS TO PAINT OTHERS BLACK. IF DR. MANTEAW IS CERTAIN AND BELIEVED IN HIS PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS HE SHOULD GIVE TO THE AUTHORITIES BUT THEY WAY THE ISSUES ARE BEING HANDEL I SMELL AN ELEPHANT INDUCEMENT IN IT.
Why wouldn't a foreigner throw pepper on a poor individual just looking for her daily bread, because all our leaders are / were bought, God kindly pour his mercy on mother Ghana, everywhere something fishy, why, no one want challenge life, ***barred word*** qualified holder's
WOW.SO WHO SIGNED THE DEAL BETWEEN GHANA AND SINOPEC.PEOPLE SHOULD GO TO JAIL.WHAT IS NANA ADDO AND BAWUMIA DOING ABOUT THIS? GRA IS A WEAK INSTITUTION.
Because of corruption and what they will get , they are planing to come back 2020 mmmmm Ghana very sad corruption everywhere
What is happening to Ghana? So we had so many people in government who were willing to sell their fellow Ghanaians for money? We talk about slave trade but what happened to Ghana during NDC government was more than slave trade yet they are walking free. Everything broke down and public official steal without shame.
ARE THIS REVELATION REAL OR AM DREAMING . SO WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN GHANA IF MAHAMA WON THE 2016 ELECTION. GHANA NEEDS A MILITARY LEADER NOT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. I MISSED PAPA J