The Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) says it has taken note of various media reports on allegations by the Public Interest & Accountability Committee (PIAC) in its recent report which has created the impression that it cannot account for $47.4 million, which is the revenue from sale of raw gas to Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC).
In a press statement reacting to the report, signed by Ernest Owusu-Bempah Bonsu, Corporate Communications Manager, the company said: “The story is untrue and misleading. It is also incorrect that the Volta River Authority (VRA) owes Ghana Gas an amount of $434 million. Ghana Gas, like any other entity, acknowledges that it owes some of its partners in the energy sector, but the figures being churned out are inaccurate.”
According to the Ghana National Gas Company, though there was a cyclical debt challenge within the energy sector, the company was the most owed.
“To set the record straight as at 31st May this year, VRA was indebted to Ghana Gas to the tune of $534.2 million. Ghana Gas, on its part, owes GNPC an amount of $162.5million as at 31st May, this year.”
Touching on VRA’s complaints that its inability to settle its debt to Ghana Gas was as a result of Electricity Company’s failure to pay huge debts owed VRA, the company stated that “we wish to state that the government is working assiduously to resolve these cyclical debt issues to make the sector more financially solvent. As a way of resolving these debt issues, the government is creating a holding fund for all receivables in the power generation sector.”
“Ghana Gas wishes to indicate that it is collaborating with its partners and stakeholders in the sector to create a harmonious working relationship that has the potential to resolve challenges confronting the sector,” it added.
By Samuel Boadi