State institution leaders who lost their position in 2019

The year 2019 saw leaders of some state institutions suffering crashes by way of dismissal, forced resignation or retirement. 

Below are some leaders who lost their position by any of these means.

Ghana Airports Company boss – Mr John Attafuah

This was the first dismissal in the month of January 2018.  Reasons for his dismissal were not clearly stated.  However, John Dekyem Attafuah was subsequently accused of sabotaging the initiatives of government within Ghana Airports Company and has been reportedly autocratic in his leadership of the company.

Public Procurement Authority (PPA) boss: Mr Agyenim Boateng Adjei

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in August 22, suspended the chief executive officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) from office.  Mr Adjei’s suspension emerged after he was named in an exposé over alleged sale of contracts.  The report suggested a conflict of interest situation in which Mr Adjei awarded contracts to a company, Talent Discovery Ltd, which he set up in 2017.

Mr Adjei was not reinstated after the suspension.

Also Read: Conflict of interest – how PPA boss fell foul

National Youth Authority boss and two deputies: Messrs Emmanuel Asigri (CEO), Richard Obeng and Bright Acheampong (both deputies)

In this case three top appointees of the institution were sacked at the same time: the CEO and his two deputies. A letter from the Ministry of Youth and Sports directed the trio to resign. The three were alleged to have engaged in procurement breaches. They reportedly purchased items worth over GHC2 million without adhering to the procurement laws. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) – Mr Asante Appeatu

The IGP was instructed to leave his office with some 24 days to his retirement.

Several theories are being propagated about what could have angered the President to ask Mr Asante Appeatu to vacate post with immediate effect.  Analysis and other media reports had suggested that he was asked to proceed on leave because he was surrounded by police officials who are on the side of the opposition NDC.

BNI boss – Mr Rasheed Seidu Inussah

The President axed him in April 2019.  Even though there were speculations that he has been directed to proceed on retirement, inside sources link his removal to a recent publication regarding three kidnapped Takoradi girls.

BOST boss – Mr Mensah Okley

He resigned in August 2019.  Investigations by the Institute of Energy Security (IES) established that Mr Okley had disagreement with some big men at the Ministry of Energy over allocation of haulage contracts. These big men had requested to be allocated with contracts to lift fuel from BOST but Mr Okley declined. Some aggrieved staff of BOST who were not happy with an action taken by Mr Okley armed with documents then proceeded and informed these same big men at the Ministry. The allegations were that at the time Mr Okley denied them the contracts, he had allocated contracts to his own company which was lifting oil from BOST to other parts of Ghana. He was then given the option to resign or be sacked and he chose to resign.

Northern Development Authority (NDA) – Alhaji Dr Haroon Majeed

His is the most recent which occured in December.  In a letter, signed by President Akufo-Addo’s Executive Secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante, he gave no reason for the revocation of the appointment of Dr Haroun.

Ghana Revenue Authourity (GRA) board chair appointment – Mr Kwame Owusu

The one-time boss of the Ghana Maritime Authority was appointed the GRA board chair. The position was however fiercely contested by staff of GRA. The President revoked his appointment and he was replaced by Prof Adei.

RUMOURS OF SACKED CEOs THAT WERE DEBUNKED

Earlier on in the year, it was rumored that some CEOs of state institutions have been sacked.  The Information Ministry later came to clear the air and debunked the information. The rumour could have found its basis in the fact that some of the people involved had crossed the mandatory retirement age of 60 as well the five-year limit on contracted retired staff. 
The CEOs affected were:

• Mr Eugene Ofosuhene, 67, Controller and Accountant General
• Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, 68, CEO of Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC)
• Mr Isaac Osei, 67, CEO of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) – He resigned in December  
• Mr Kwame Owusu, 67, CEO of Ghana Maritime Authority – He has since retired
• Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, 65, CEO of Forestry Commission
• Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, 65, director general of Ghana Health Service
• Dr Samuel Annor, 64, CEO of National Health Insurance Authority – He has since retired
• Mr K K Sarpong, 65, CEO of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)