A recent post by Bright Simons, Honorary Vice President of Policy Think-tank, Imani-Africa, has sparked controversy after he incorrectly attributed a 2020 unitisation directive to former Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
The directive, which was withdrawn by the new government, was actually issued in 2020, a time when Dr. Prempeh was serving as Education Minister, not Energy Minister.
Background of the Unitisation Directive
The unitisation directive in question relates to the Afina-1X Discovery and the Sankofa Cenomanian Oil Field.
The directive was issued in 2020, during the tenure of the previous government.
However, in a recent move, the new government withdrew the directive, citing reasons that have not been made public.
Inaccurate Attribution by Bright Simons
In a post on X, Simons attributed the unitisation directive to Dr. Prempeh, claiming that the former Energy Minister had issued a “bizarre order”.
However, this attribution is incorrect, as Dr. Prempeh was not the Energy Minister at the time the directive was issued.
Dr. Prempeh’s Response
Dr. Prempeh’s team has responded to Simons’ post, demanding a retraction and apology for the inaccurate attribution.
According to a statement, Dr. Prempeh assumed office as Energy Minister on March 7, 2021, and therefore could not have issued the unitisation directive in question.
The statement also emphasized the importance of accuracy and truthfulness in public discourse, stating that opinions on government decisions should be expressed with accuracy, circumspection, and decorum.
Implications of the Controversy
The controversy surrounding Simons’ post has raised questions about his attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
It has also sparked a broader discussion about the role of think tanks and policy analysts in shaping public discourse.
-BY Issah Olegor
