There appears to be a powerful clique operating inside the three months old government of Nana Akufo-Addo, which is announcing appointments, forging appointment letters and dispatching people to state institutions on behalf of the President without his knowledge and authority.
The clique appears to be forging the not-too-difficult signature of President Akufo-Addo on his green official letterhead and offering appointments to people.
Indeed, there is unease in some state institutions with respect to some appointment letters, as there are three appointing authorities in the government, including President Akufo-Addo himself, and it is not clear which of the signatures is more powerful to be respected.
While some of the appointment letters had come bearing the signatures of Nana Asante Bediatuo; the Executive Secretary to the President, others had come from the sector ministers, some of whom signed these letters as minister-designates. The third category, had come with President Akufo-Addo himself signing.
What is interesting is that, most of the letters, had no reference numbers.
Government insiders, told The Herald that, the situation has created some embarrassing scenes at some state establishments with the latest being the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) where two appointment letters had been given to two individuals to head the institution as Director General, leading to the handing over ceremony being called off at the last minute.
About two weeks ago, retired Brigadier General K Oppong-Kyekyeku, showed up at the offices of NADMO with the green letter signed by President Akufo-Addo, appointing him as the Director-General of NADMO.
A handing over ceremony was quickly scheduled for last Friday, March 10, 2017 for Brigadier General Kwame Oppong-Kyekyeku to take over from Brigadier General Francis Vib Sanziri, who was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama in 2015.
With everything set for the ceremony and a heavy presence of all the NADMO regional coordinators at the NADMO headquarters in Accra, strict orders came from the Flagstaff House for the ceremony to be stopped immediately.
Canopies, chairs, among other things that were arranged for the ceremony, were taken back. Other invited guests, including foreign partners, were all asked to go back for a later date.
The NADMO officers, were later to hear that a fresh appointment has been made, and that the same President Akufo-Addo, has appointed one Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh as the new Director General to take over from Brigadier General Francis Vib Sanziri, who has been recalled to the Burma Camp for another appointment.
Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh’s appointment letter is said to be dated March 9, 2017.
President Akufo-Addo, is said to have stated that the appointment is in pursuant to Section 17(1) of the NADMO Act, 2016, Act 926. “I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment,” the letter said.
It is not clear whether Brigadier General Oppong-Kyekyeku’s appointment letter, was one of the forged letters.
In another development, Abu Ramadan, brother in-law of the Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, has also been appointed as NADMO deputy boss.
Abu Ramadan, is a former Youth Organizer of the People’s National Convention (PNC). He is a brother to Samira Bawumia; wife of the Vice-President.
He defected to the NPP late last year, although he has over the years been more NPP than PNC, including dragging the Electoral Commission (EC) and its boss to the Supreme Court over the Voters’ Register. He was instrumental in “Let My Vote-Count Alliance” (LMVCA). The appointment is seen as a reward.
Another controvery is presently at the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), where a certain Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah.
He is carrying a letter dated February 6, 2017 as Executive Director of COTVET based on Act 718 of 2006.
Dr. Asamoah’s appointment took effect February 6, the same day the letter was signed and delivered by him to the offices of COTVET.
Many of the officers at the COTVET are not sure whether the letter came from the President, and they have been grumbling since his arrival.
Recently, former deputy attorney general, Osei Kwame Prempeh, was appointed head of Ghana Oil (GOIL) by President Akufo-Addo, leading to some controversies with the chairman of the GOIL Board of Directors, William Asumaning accusing President Akufo-Addo of breaching procedures in his appointment of a new Chief Executive officer of the company.
According to Prof. Asumaning, GOIL is a public listed company on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) with its own regulations, which makes it impossible for the president to appoint or disappoint a CEO without observing the necessary procedures.
Ex-NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, was reported to be going to assume a vacant post of the Director General of the Ghana Ports and Habour (GPHA).
The Office of the President, subsequently denied the report. Till date no one knows who planted the information in the public domain and picked up by the media.
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