Lazy ‘Gold for oil’ deal will plunge Ghana into debt crisis – John Jinapor

AdomOnline.com

Jan 18, 2023 11:54 AM

Ranking Member on Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, has criticised government’s “Gold for Oil” approach to solving the constant fuel price hikes.

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Mr Jinapor says the move will rather worsen the government’s unsustainable debt burden.

According to the former Deputy Minister for Power, the gold being used for the deal ought to be valued in dollar terms as a function of currency as it is done for oil.

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, on Tuesday, January 17, Mr Jinapor said government needs to be cautious about the move.

“This is a lazy man’s approach, because gold, first of all, needs to be expressed in its monetary value.

“You can’t just say take an ounce of gold and give me a barrel of oil, as it used to be in the real barter that you are talking about.

“You must first of all, value that gold in dollar terms, and that is the function of currency or money,” he said.

The Yapei Kusawgu MP added that the deal will impact Ghana’s finances badly.

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“I’m not a prophet of doom, but from all the documents I have read, we are heading for a debt crisis out of this so-called Gold for oil deal,” he said.

Government took delivery of the first consignment of oil under the policy at the Tema Port on Monday, January 16.

The 40,000 metric tons of oil from the United Arab Emirates was subsequently discharged to Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST).

BOST will subsequently formulate plans for its distribution and sale to the Oil Marketing Companies.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to reduce fuel prices and reserve the country’s forex.

However, some Ghanaians have raised concerns about the government’s ability to sustain the policy.

But the Bank of Ghana has allayed those fears saying the country has enough gold for the deal.

According to the Central Bank, the country has a sufficient quantity of gold reserves to sustain the policy.

The Director of Financial Market at the Bank of Ghana, Stephen Opata, made this known on Monday, January 16, when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee.