News:
July 29, 2016
The Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed an application that sought to challenge government for purchasing a 250MW power ship from a Turkish company without parliamentary approval.
In a writ filed on behalf of Mr Assibey Yeboah, Lawyer Alexander Afenyo-Markin wanted the court to decide on the constitutionality or otherwise of the Attorney General’s position that parliament’s approval was not needed in the Karpower deal with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin run to the supreme court over the issue invoking provisions of Article 181 (Clause 5) of the 1992 constitution, which states that every international financial agreement by government must be brought to parliament for approval.
He’d persistently raised the issue on the floor of the house, in respect of Article for redress but to no avail.
However, the court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse threw out the case on Thursday July 28, and did not give reasons for the dismissal, but said he will file their entire ruling with the Supreme Court registry.
The power barge essentially a medium-term solution to the load shedding crisis that persisted for years is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed between the state-owned power distributor, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Karpowership Ghana Company Limited.
Per the agreement, the two Powerships on-board will generate a total of 450 MW, to boost power supply from Ghana’s electrical grid for a period of 10 years.