'Stay away from AMERI' – Energy expert to Amewu

An Energy Expert, Kojo Opoku has advised incoming Minister for Energy, Peter Amewu to desist from making the controversial AMERI deal his topmost priority.

Mr. Amewu, who was asked to act as Energy Minister after the former minister’s removal was confirmed for the portfolio in President Akufo-Addo’s maiden ministerial reshuffle.

He[Amewu] formerly headed the Lands and Natural Resources ministry where many applauded him for his hardwork and dedication after leading a spirited campaign against illegal mining.

Amewu will have a daunting task ahead of him as he takes over the administration of a Ministry hit with a barrage of scandals with the latest being the AMERI saga.

But Mr. Opoku in an interview on Accra-based 3 fm cautioned him [Amewu] to explore other areas of the Energy sector rather than fight over the same Ameri deal that saw his predecessor booted out of office.

“I don’t think that Ameri is a priority, its something that we have to deal with but its not a priority. I will not expect a new minister would come in and go straight to make Ameri an issue. There are other things within the ministry and within the sector that he can attend to and take his time to take an advice and proceed and deal with Ameri.”

“It is not that pressing an issue that I would expect him to hurriedly get involved with.”

However, he has indicated that the area of concern should be the relocation of the Karpower project to the Takoradi enclave.



“Now we are all aware that we are no longer in dumsor,…we do not have that urgency in trying to secure power. Now in terms of the ENI project, where Karpower is suppose to relocate to the Takoradi area, that is a priority because as far as Karpower is still using Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)in the Tema area, we are losing as a country. ENI is supposed to produce gas for the energy sector, but now we don’t have any infrastructure in the Takoradi area to be used by gas. So moving the Karpower to the Takoradi area is a priority.”