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The handling of the AMERI novation agreement was a victory for Ghana’s Parliament and democracy, social commentator, Sydney Casely-Hayford has said.

Though the Minority in Parliament is calling for more blood over the failed attempt at amending the deal, following the sacking of Boakye Agyarko as Energy Minister, Mr. Casely-Hayford expressed satisfaction that due process eventually prevailed.

“Our systems are working because that is the way it is supposed to be,” he affirmed on The Big Issue.

The new agreement was to extend the current five-year deal with Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group (AMERI) Energy which is currently operating a 300MW emergency power plant in Ghana to 15 years and bring onboard a new company from Greece, Mytilineous International Trading Company, to manage the plant for the period.

Analysis from observers indicates that the proposed amendment to the AMERI agreement would have seen a cash flow of $1,125,007,380.

However, it was expected that the government would be paying a total of $1.375 billion for the AMERI power plant over approximately 15 years instead of the original $510 million. But red flags were raised at the committee level in Parliament over the cost and value for money and the deal was eventually held back.

“If that is what happened and they [Minority] were actually able to halt this at the [Mines and Energy Committee] level, then we have to say it is a good thing and our democracy, at least, is working,” Mr. Casely-Hayford remarked.