Ivorian power termination letter fake - Government

The Power Ministry has described as fake, a letter in circulation purported to be from the Ivorian government announcing the termination of an energy deal between the two countries.

The letter dated November 1, 2016 with the signature of one Adama Toungara stated: “Notice is hereby given that the government of Ivory Coast through the Ministry of Mines Petroleum and Energy shall cease supplying electricity power to Ghana with effect from 21st November, 2016.”

“Termination of this contract is effected in respect to your inability to follow payment schedules as defined in the contract. However, inasmuch as your breach impairs the contract as whole, we claim damages from Ghana in the amount of six hundred and two million dollars”.

However, the Communications Officer at the Power Ministry, Macintosh Essuman Aidoo has told Class News on Thursday, November 10 that he has seen the letter but after examination and crosschecks, its authenticity is questionable.

“I have seen the letter and I have crosschecked with all our agencies. I have also checked some of the letters that we have received from them but it is not the same and should be disregarded,” he emphasised.

He explained that Ghana “takes raw power from Ivory Coast from the South, we process and sell the processed power back to them in the Northern part of Ghana”.

This, he said was possible due to “the West African Power pool deal consisting of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Burkina. Anytime one country has excess power, they shed to the other and vice-versa and that has been the operation style”.

He emphasised that Ghana is currently not taking any power from Ivory Coast because “we have excess generation”.