Ranking Member of the Energy Committee and MP for Adansi Asokwa, K. T. Hammond, has called on President John Dramani Mahama, to immediately launch investigations into the circumstances under which the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) allegedly dolled out GH?1million to former CEO of the Corporation, Tsatsu Tsikata for no work done.
He also wants a former Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Nana Asafo-Adjei and Esther Cobbah, Tsikata’s wife, investigated for also benefitting from the alleged booty.
“Tsatsu Tsikata has for the past fifteen years not had any relationship … he has not worked for the Government of Ghana let alone for the GNPC since 2000. So for what reason should he be given that money?” he told journalists in an interview Friday moments after being denied the opportunity to make such claims on the floor of Parliament by the First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton-Odro.
Mr. Hammond said his position on the matter was against the backdrop of the huge indebtedness of the GNPC which stood at US$61.764, 240 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over the management of the Ghanaian economy in 2001.
Disturbed about the reckless spending culture of the GNPC, Mr. Hammond cautioned that if the Corporation was not checked, the country’s oil find will be a curse rather than a blessing.