The Minority in Parliament is needling the Akufo-Addo administration , accusing it of unnecessarily borrowing money from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
The group expressed worry over the rate at which government borrows from the oil corporation.
Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu, revealed that government has borrowed $289 million since 2017.
According to him, the habit of borrowing from the nation’s petroleum commercialisation vehicle must stop immediately.
“We had the opportunity to meet GNPC and its quite worrying. Between 2017 up to September 2019, government has borrowed from GNPC to the tune of $289 million for the various agencies.
“Taking money from GNPC for BOST which has not been budgeted for. Government is using GNPC as their side pocket. Anytime they have challenges, they just go in and take money. This must stop” he said.
GNPC Expenses
GNPC recently came under a barrage of criticism, following its decision to donate $2 million to external parties.
A leaked internal memo revealed various amounts of monies have been allocated to the First Lady’s Foundation; Rebecca Foundation, The Ghana Journalists Association, and the celebration of the Okyenhene’s 20th Anniversary.
GH₵1.8 million is to be donated to the Okyenhene, the First Lady’s foundation will also receive GH₵ 120,000 while the GJA will gets GH₵50,000.
Others budgeted for include the Ghana Boxing Association which had $30,000 and GH₵ 400,000 for the Damba festival by the Dagbon State.
The Minority Spokesperson on mines and energy Adam Mutawakilu reignited concerns about the GNPC.
Equity
“The amount is of a concern. I’m worried that you could donate to the Okyenhene the amount of GH₵ 1.8 million and to Dagbon GH₵ 400,000. How about the Asantehene? How about the Western Region because they host most of the assets of the oil money we have? ” he quizzed.