By: Prof Lungu
"...Respectfully, we will alert IMANI's Franklin Cudjoe, ACEP's Adam, the IEA, and other resistors to the PSA that there is more to the splendor of the PSA aside from the PSA being the World Standard Contract for sovereign Oil and Gas. With the PSA, the country (i.e., the sovereign), does not need 100s of $100,000 Effah-Dartey "oil and gas" contracts that "the Minister" approves behind dark curtains while popping imported wines in smoke-filled rooms with other "Big Men". As such, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance is better regularized, allowing for a more stable operating environment for the sovereign and the Oil Company ...The PSA is the responsible way for Ghana...Support the PSA campaign...", (Prof Lungu, 19 Dec 15).
Currently, Ghana is not receiving Fair-Trade Oil Share benefits, nor Equity, nor compensatory Economic Growth, etc., for oil being exploited at the Jubilee Oil Fields.
Up front, we will also state that in more ways than one, we have common purpose with IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, The Freedom of Information Coalition, The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), and other good governance groups fighting for transparency, accountability, and effective performance by the government of Ghana, no matter who is in the driver's seat.
Recently, we took The Institute of Economic Affairs IEA to task for totally ignoring the fight to institutionalize Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) into Ghana's oil production regimen, versus the so-called Ghana Hybrid System that has caused upwards of $6 billion loss in oil revenues to Ghana during the last 5 years alone.
We did a similar critique of Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam and his Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), for leading and practically cheering the resistance to the adoption of the PSA for Ghana. This, even as we now understand, Dr. Adam and his organization have received thousands of dollars from at least one foreign government and private corporations whose interests are best served by the status quo as initialed by the erstwhile NPP administration.
Currently, Ghana's loss in oil sales is akin to "death" of Ghana by 1,000 bites of "Oil and Gas" contracts, licenses and concessions. Ghana is losing while IMANI nibbles.
And we had very high regard for IMANI until recently!
That is when we heard about the defense by their Chief Executive of Mr. Stan Xoese Dobge, the NDC insider who literally stole government data on contract negotiations with the doctor's union and then published that information on his private Facebook page.
We submit that the defense of Dobge by IMANI was an egregious dereliction of duty and responsibility given the professed IMANI mission. IMANI squandered some goodwill.
Serious business temporarily aside, what had us laughing the other day was the piece we read on Ghanaweb titled, "IMANI demands details on Ghana’s $7BN ENI oil and gas deal".
That was one funny one!
Here we had IMANI's Franklin Cudjoe asking for details about an "oil and gas deal" between the People of Ghana (represented by Mr. Mahama's NDC Government), and ENI (a multi-billion dollar oil conglomerate), after the agreement was already signed, sealed, and delivered.
READ: "... According to Mr. Cudjoe, it will serve the interest of Ghanaians for government to be transparent with the various contracts it has entered into particularly in the energy sector..."
Ironically, today, IMANI and their entire leadership cannot be bothered to fight proactively for Ghana's "Oil and Gas". IMANI is not inclined to support the PSA that can actually guarantee that Ghana receives a fairer share of its sovereign Oil and help avert another $6 billion loss in Oil revenue the next five years.
Respectfully, we will alert IMANI's Franklin Cudjoe (ACEPS Adam, The IEA), and other resistors to the PSA. There is more to the splendor of the PSA aside from the PSA being the World Standard Contract for sovereign Oil and Gas. With the PSA, the country (the sovereign), does not need hundreds of $100,000 Effah-Dartey type "oil and gas" contracts that "the Minister" approves behind curtains while popping imported wines in smoke-filled rooms with other "Big Men". As such, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance is better regularized, allowing a more stable operating environment for the sovereign and the oil company.
The PSA is the responsible way for Ghana to avoid plunder of its non-renewable resources.
Support the PSA campaign, IMANI.
Articulate to the Fair Trade Share Oil-Ghana (FTOS-Gh) Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) campaign. Make your "Oil and Gas" monitoring effort less strenuous, even more effective.
Otherwise, after all the contracts are "cooked", continue biting your lips and asking for bits while nibbling at the edges.
Yes, after it's all signed, sealed, and delivered!
But we are still hopeful!
Happy Holidays, IMANI!
Support the Fair Trade Oil Share-Ghana (FTOS-GH) Campaign.
Visit www.GHanaHero.Com/FTOS-GH, for more information.
So it goes, Ghana!
Greetings!
SOURCES/NOTES
1. Ghanaweb. IMANI demands details on Ghana’s $7BN ENI oil and gas deal, 17 December 2015, (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/IMANI-demands-details-on-Ghana-s-7BN-ENI-oil-and-gas-deal-401623).
2. GHANAHERO.COM & PROF LUNGU POLICY ON SOURCES:
Our essays are data- and evidence-driven. But they are not written to the standards of a journal or peer review article. We only provide detailed sources and references to serious persons and entities, from an intellectual frame of reference. Contact us via www.GhanaHero.com, if you need a copy of a final paper on any subject we've tackled. Contact us, too, if you need a copy of a document we've referenced or discussed in any paper, including this one.
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©Prof Lungu is Ghana-centered/Ghana-Proud.
Prof Lungu is based in Washington DC, USA.
IMANI, when we nibble at edges we bite our lips asking for bits!
Brought to you courtesy www.GhanaHero.com©21 December, 2015.
