PDS Saga: Government begins 30-day inquiry into breaches

The government has begun a 30-day inquiry into some breaches it has detected in relation to its concession agreement with Power Distribution Service (Limited).

The team conducting the inquiry comprises insurance investigation experts, officials of the Energy and Finance ministries and officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA).

The inquiry will determine the nature of the breaches and advise the government accordingly, the Information Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said by Tuesday, 6 August 2019, the team is expected in Doha, Qatar as part of the inquiry.

A second team has been tasked to continue engagement with the American government through its agency – the Millennium Challenge Corporation. This engagement is about the possible next steps after the inquiry and channels for sharing information, as part of the inquiry. That team is expected to also be in the USA, possibly next week, as part of its engagement.

The statement said final efforts to ensure a smooth transition between ECG and PDS officials are proceeding without any incident.

The government has reiterated that the breach was discovered by the due diligence of the Ghanaian authorities through ECG and with the support of state agencies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the provision of the payment guarantee has always been a condition precedent and was never changed to a condition subsequent as being speculated by some persons,” the statement added.