GENERAL NEWS

Energy Minister, Others To Face Jail Term Over ‘Sham’ Petroleum Deal – Alex Mould

Published

5 years ago

05/13/2019

Lionel

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has served notice Energy Minister and the entire Cabinet of President Akufo-Addo, will in future, have questions to answer over their involvement in the AGM petroleum deal, which has widely been described as a “sham”.

Alexander Kofi Mensah Mould, charged “Anybody who approved this has caused financial loss to the state. If anybody approves this, he is either useless and does not understand the basis of financing, or there is a benefit”, adding it is shocking that a deal that was rejected by former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko and put before the same Cabinet, would be accepted by the new Minister and the same Cabinet without any basis.

According to Mr Mould, the action of John Peter Amewu and the Akufo-Addo Cabinet, to renegotiate the deal with the Norwegian oil firm, first signed in 2013, by reviewing downwards Ghana’s share from 49 percent to 18 percent, is something that should not be left unanswered.

“We should not let Cabinet out of this and we should not give Hon Amewu all the credit for doing all this bad deal, no!We cannot give him all the credit. The credit of doing this bad deal, lies at the highest level of approval in this country and that is Cabinet and we know that Cabinet represents the Presidency. So my question to them is, what information made them change the deal that many of us don’t understand that changed government’s 49 percent to 18 percent? I am puzzled”, Mr Mould said.

The former top official of Standard Chartered Bank in both New York and Ghana, described as “shameful”, the “accelerated”manner in which the deal was pushed through an emergency recall of Parliament and subsequent approval without due diligence.

Mr Mould, said this at a Public Forum on the $30 billion State capture in Ghana’s Oil industry, organized by the Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH) on Tuesday in Accra.

The former GNPC CEO, bluntly said the deal could have only been passed by government officials, who know next to nothing, adding those people have “caused financial loss to the state”.

“The question is, anybody who knows an iota of finance in this country, and the Finance Minister he will not approve such a thing to happen. Anybody who approved this has caused financial loss to the state. If anybody approves this, he is either useless and does not understand the basis of financing, or there is a benefit. Now, I will leave the people of Ghana to decide what action should be taken”, he said.

He said, if Cabinet accepted Mr Amewu’s position, then it means he must have presented new information, which he insists does not exist.

“It’s very clear that before Boakye Agyarko, the former Minister approved or before he turned down the offer or the application of AGM, he must have gone through some process. And my understanding of government is like any organization, there is a board that approves what a Minister can do, that board is called Cabinet or you can have an Executive Order from the president. So mostly likely, Hon. Agyarko, went to Cabinet, he made his case got approval and turned it down. Now the question is, another minister comes,I am sure he went to the same Cabinet almost of the same number of people, and got approval to approve to this”.

The former GNPC boss, who has also worked with Union Bank of Switzerland serving in their New York office continued, “What I am saying is that, he must have brought new information to Cabinet because the Cabinet with the same old information,will not be able to approve something they did not approve [the first time].So he must have brought new information and the question is, what is this new information that evoked Cabinet decision.

GENERAL NEWS

DEBUT ALBUM: Miriam Mandipira & The Soul Family

Published

1 week ago

07/16/2024

Lionel

DEBUT ALBUM by Miriam Mandipira & The Soul Family!
You’ve never heard a voice like Miriam Mandipira’s. Undeservedly, she doesn’t take credit for the power or presence she delivers. For Miriam, music is much more than just notes and words. It’s
magic. And faith. You can experience it LIVE and on the album, which is set to be released on September 1st.

She has been singing for as long as she can remember, growing up with her ears glued to the radio.

From the moment her school teacher asked her to sing in class, the rest has been history. From Africa to Denmark, from Book Café in Harare to Mojo Blues Bar and the big concert halls. From
Danish Radio Big Band to the Royal Theater. Music is music, and Miriam is the music.

“But it’s not about me when I sing. I’m just the instrument, and when I’m on stage with my band, I sing from a place that’s not about rules and technique but about emotions,” says the singer, who is
seriously trying her hand at songwriting – together with her Soul Family on the album “Ndiwe”, which means ‘you are the chosen one of my heart.’ The overall message is impossible to ignore
Love.

“Call me a soul singer, call me a jazz singer. I don’t care. Good music is good music, and I love interpreting other people’s songs and being inspired. At the same time, I think it’s great to try my
hand at creating and writing the songs myself – and with my friends in the Soul Family, I have found my place. They are my family, and the curiosity and respect we share are fantastic.”

You can experience that up close when Miriam & The Soul Family take the stage. The enthusiasm for music and communication is impossible to ignore and hear.

“I love to maintain the feeling of being a child. It’s an excitement and curiosity that keeps me going, and that’s why I’m so excited about every single concert – no matter how small or large it is.

Otherwise, I would never do it. This is not just a casual thing. This is a life, and everything means something,” says Miriam, who began her years in Denmark by jamming at Mojo Blues Bar, building a network.

Enjoy

ENTERTAINMENT

Bnoskka and Apprise Music Join Forces To Launch IP Zone Podcast

Published

2 months ago

05/27/2024

Lionel

Bnoskka, a leading creative arts business and intellectual property consultant, is excited to announce its collaboration with Apprise Music, a renowned music publishing and distribution company, to launch the IP Zone Podcast. Hosted by Bnoskka, the podcast is now streaming on YouTube, Spotify and all major streaming platforms.

IP Zone Podcast delves into the fascinating world of intellectual property, creativity, and innovation, featuring insightful conversations with industry experts, artists, and thought leaders. With a focus on the music and creative industries, the podcast explores the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in intellectual property, copyright, and innovation.

“I am thrilled to partner with Apprise Music to bring IP Zone Podcast to the public,” said Bnoskka. “Our goal is to create an engaging and informative platform that sparks meaningful discussions and inspires creativity. We believe that intellectual property is at the heart of innovation, and we’re excited to share this journey with our audience.”

“Apprise Music is dedicated to empowering creatives and artists to protect and monetize their intellectual property,” said Mr. Michael Bamfo, CEO of Apprise Music. “We’re proud to collaborate with Bnoskka on IP Zone Podcast, and we look forward to sharing our expertise and insights with the creative community.”

Tune in to IP Zone Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and other popular streaming platforms.

Subscribe now and join the conversations.

Contact:
Mr. Michael Bamfo
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +233 24 502 4002

About Bnoskka:
Bnoskka is a creative arts business and intellectual property consultant dedicated to empowering creatives and businesses to protect, monetize, and grow their intellectual property.

About Apprise Music:
Apprise Music is a music publishing and distribution company committed to supporting artists and creatives in the music industry.