The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for greater transparency in the handling of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), insisting such contracts must not be kept secret.
Speaking during a working visit by members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus to the Energy Ministry, the minister welcomed commitments to make PPAs publicly accessible, describing transparency efforts as both “instrumental and useful.”
Leading the delegation, Vice Chairperson and Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, intimated that the visit formed part of ongoing efforts to evaluate the progress of government institutions in implementing commitments under Ghana’s National Action Plan.
According to him, a key component of the OGP National Action Plan is amending the mandate of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to include public disclosure of PPAs and ensure transparency in power-sector contracting.
In response, Mr Jinapor stated that the Ministry already submits all PPAs to Parliament and has recently renegotiated one agreement approved by a previous administration, which has since been presented for parliamentary consideration. He added that a Legislative Instrument has been passed to regulate procurement processes in the power sector.
The minister further disclosed plans to establish a dedicated ministry website where all PPAs will be published for public access.
“Anyone who wants a PPA can go there and download it,” he assured, emphasising the government’s commitment to openness and accountability.
The push for transparency comes amid longstanding concerns about PPAs in Ghana, which have often been negotiated behind closed doors. Such secrecy has been linked to inefficiencies and high costs passed on to consumers.
Past controversies surrounding PPAs include the cancellation of an agreement with the Ghana Power Generating Company in 2017. The decision led to international arbitration involving Trafigura, culminating in a $140 million judgment against Ghana.
A key recommendation is to enhance transparency in the negotiation and disclosure of PPAs to help prevent similar disputes and ensure better value for money in future agreements.
Ghana has been a member of the Open Government Partnership since 2011 and continues to play an active role through Parliament. The OGP Caucus, established to oversee the implementation of transparency commitments, has been engaging key institutions, including the Internal Audit Agency and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, as part of its oversight mandate.