President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo terminated the appointment of four Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of state institutions and former Minister of Energy. They are the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Paul Asare Ansah, the CEO of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport, Alfred Obeng Boateng, the CEO of Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Gifty Klenam, and the CEO of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Felix Anyah and Boakye Agyarko, former Energy Minister. The affected individuals were served with their termination letters in a day came as a shock to many political watchers. GPHA saga According to the letter from the Presidency, the Director-General was to hand over to the current Director of Tema Port, Edward Osei who will oversee Affairs of the Port Authority until a substantive Director General in the person of Michael Luguje, the Executive Secretary of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa fully take over the management of GPHA.
The Termination of Appointment letter which was signed by Nana Asante Bediatuo, Secretary to the President and dated 5th June 2018 was titled, Termination of Office and Handing Over. Reasons for Paul Ansah’s removal from office are not immediately known but it is believed to have been triggered by a recent spat between workers’ union of the Ports Authority and Board Chair, Peter Mac Manu whom they accuse of engaging in wrongful undertakings as well as running a family and friends’ administration. The Board Chairman denied all the allegations and caused his lawyers to write to the leaders of the union demanding a retraction and apology and threatening legal action if they fail to. BOST In the case of the BOST, the President has appointed George Mensah Okley to take over from Boateng. Obeng Boateng’s reign as BOST Managing Director has been dogged by one controversy and another relating to the sale of contaminated fuel to some private organisations. He was, however, cleared by Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), according to Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko who had set up a committee to investigate the sale. Gifty Klenam of GEPA dismissed Chief Executive Officer at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Gifty Klenam, has also been removed from her post. This information has, however, not been verified independently. Madam Klenam and her deputy, Sayibu Akilu are said to be at loggerheads with each other for some time now, a development which is having a ripple effect on (GEPA). She was investigated by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). Reports are that Klenam and Amoako Twum allegedly misappropriated $132,000 or GH¢580,800 during their tenure at GEPA, are to appear before the Executive Director of EOCO, K.K. Amoah. They reportedly collected $132,000 or GH¢580,800 for rent covering a period of two years in gross violation of state procurement laws. Though they initially denied the allegations, reports suggests they indeed collected the money. The paper says that the CEO and her deputy, in a letter dated 23rd May, 2017, which was jointly signed by the two, ordered the Manager of First Atlantic Bank, Ghana Limited, to effect the transfer of “the cedi equivalent of $132,000 from account number 0360571101014 and credit same to account number 0360571101025.” Anyah of Korle-Bu sacked Dr Felix Anyah was also sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Though reasons for his removal was not stated, Dr Anyah has 48hours to pack out of his office and hand over any Korle-Bu assets in his possession back. He was accused of masterminding the removal of deputy Chiefs of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor. The two deputy Chiefs of Staff have an albatross around their necks after A-Plus accused them of being corrupt. But after an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department, the Police described as baseless the allegations levelled at the two. The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital management’s decision to terminate a contract it had with UniBank for onsite banking services was followed by some intervention from the two staffers after a petition from UniBank. The Hospital’s management has explained that there were compatibility issues with the End-to-End Hospital Revenue Collection Software being used and UniBank, hence the termination which was later rescinded. Boakye Agyarko fired Nana Addo in August this year relieved the Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko of his position. A statement from the presidency signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, did not state what exactly led to his dismissal by the president, but reports indicated that it has to do with the infamous renegotiated. AMERI deal which has sparked intense debate across of the country when it was signed. The terms and conditions of the renegotiated AMERI deal were said not to be favourable to the country, prompting many questions from experts and analysts. Cabinet, at its meeting, withdrew a letter that asked parliament to approve the deal. Angry staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA) called for the dismissal of the Energy Minister. Hours after the agitation from VRA staff, the Presidency released a letter, which indicated that Nana Addo has by letter dated “6th August, 2018, relieved the Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko of his position with immediate effect.” Source: Pulse.com.gh