TOR DEBT AT THE CLOSE DECEMBER 2008, who is lying?

Kweku Kwarteng

In the face of fresh price hike on fuel, Kweku Kwarteng writes about "what various NDC government officials have stated as the TOR debt at the close of December 2008."

1. Hon Moses Asaga, Member of Govt’s Economic Team:
At 9.34 pm on Monday, the 19th January 2009, Hon Moses Asaga, then a member of the NDC Economic Team, said on Matters Arising on TV Africa that the TOR debt at the close of December 2008 was GHȼ1 billion.

2. President Atta-Mills, President of Ghana:
Then, on the 14th April 2009, President Atta-Mills, during his encounter with journalists at the Castle, stated that the TOR debt at the close of December 2009 was GHC1.14 billion.

3. NDC Government’s Transition Team
In May 2009, the NDC Government’s Transition Teams released a document, supposedly coming from TOR that put the TOR debt at the close of December 2008 at GHC473 million.

4. Vice President John Mahama:
Then, around 10.37 pm on Thursday the 11th June 2009, the Vice President John Mahama stated on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana that the TOR debt at the close of December 2008 was GHC930 million.

5. Minister for Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei:
The following day, the 12th June 2009, the Minister for Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei said on the floor of Parliament that the TOR debt at the close of December 2008 was GHC106 million.

According to him, the under-recoveries at TOR, at VRA, at Bulk Trading Company, at Bost and others, all put together was GHC347 million at the close of December 2008.

6. Mr Alex Mould, CEO, National Petroleum Authority
Then at 8.45 am on Tuesday, 4th January 2011 on Joy FM Super Morning Show, the Chief Executive of NPA, Mr Alex Mould, stated in the face of fresh fuel price hikes, that the TOR debt at the close of December 2008 was GHC1.5 billion.

So, who is lying?

Kweku Kwarteng, Accra, January 4, 2011