Kufuor, others must be investigated over GNPC ship - Kobby

A former Deputy Minister of Interior Kobby Acheampong says President Kufuor, Mr. Kan Dapaah and K.T. Hammond must be criminally investigated over the sale of the GNPC drill ship, Discovery 511.

The ship was sold over a decade ago to pay judgment debts awarded in favour of Societe Generale by a UK court.

However, the energy ministry, the GNPC and the Bank of Ghana have denied having any documentation covering the transaction.

Societe- Generale officials who appeared before the judgment debt commission said they did not have any record of the $19.5million claimed to be paid to them by the erstwhile Kufuor government.

The former deputy Energy Minister, K.T Hammond, has expressed his readiness to appear before the judgment debt commission to clarify the issue.

But speaking on the XYZ Breakfast Show on Wednesday, Kobby Acheampong said the Judgment Debt Commission is taking too long in pursuing the matter for a possible crimes committed.

“The three persons involved in this thing are available and these three people are in this country; President Kufuor authorized the then Minister of Energy and his deputy, Mr. Kan Dappaah and K.T. Hammond, to do this transaction. So why are we going round in circles?"

He added, “What must be done is to escalate this issue into criminal enquiry and it must be done quickly.”

Mr. Kan Dapaah earlier stated that there was no wrong done in the sale of the ship adding that all monies realized from the sale could traced. He voluntarily appeared before the commission to submit some document but was asked to leave until he is officially invited.

However, Mr. Acheampong believes that if the persons involved are called before a court for a criminal enquiry, the truth will be revealed.