The Ameri Power Plant has no operating licence.

This is according to the report by the committee charged to review, restructure and recommend areas of amendment of the Ameri power deal.

In their report they stated that “currently the Ameri Energy plant does not have an operating licence. This is contrary to section 11 and 25 of the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (ACT 541) which requires the operators of the plant to secure the licenses and permits.”

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“It is imperative that these licenses and permits are taken by the plant operator, Ameri Energy, as soon as possible,” the report added.

However the report stated that the Energy Commission (EC) has notified the entity that secured all permits and licenses for the construction (Volta River Authority) of this development.

“It is to be noted that the Energy Commission (EC) has officially notified VRA that the Ameri 250MW plant is yet to secure an operational license.”

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“Similarly, a Grid Interconnection Agreement must be signed between the plant operator and the Grid operator (GRIDCo).”

The committee therefore urged that Ameri is made to get the appropriate licences and permits as soon as possible.

Background

Under the Mahama-led administration when the energy crisis worsened the government agreed to rent 300MW of emergency from AMERI.

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AMERI was to build the power plants, own and operate it for 5years before finally transferring it to the government of Ghana all at a total cost of $510m.

This was done on a sole-sourced basis after a meeting between the former President of the Republic of Ghana and the Crown Prince of Dubai.

Parliament approved the deal on March 20, 2015.

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However, energy policy think-tank African Center Energy Policy (ACEP) raised several concerns.

Following a change in government, the Energy minister Boakye Agyarko tasked a 17-member committee chaired by popular New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawyer, Philip Addison.