Former Acting Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte has waded into the issue surrounding the dismissal of staff he employed, justifying why the action by his successor is wrong.
Management of the scheme, in a statement signed by the Acting Executive Director Mustapha Ussif on Wednesday, withdrawn the appointment of about 205 staff employed in December by the previous government with immediate effect.
“All matters and issues pertaining to the recruitment were discussed by the Board, and only approved decisions were implemented. The records are in the various Board minutes,” Dr. Kpessa-Whyte wrote.
Below is his 21-point explanation to the recruitment
In 2015, NSS wrote to the Public Services Commission to recruit staff to place those who exited the scheme through retirement and dismissal
NSS received a letter from the Public Services Commission dated February 19, 2016 granting clearance for recruitment for 35 staff who exited mainly through retirement and others
In another letter dated June 2, 2016, the PSC wrote to NSS Granting clearance for additional 172 staff due to the vacancies created by the dismissal of those involved in the ghost name scandal.
Following this, NSS wrote in July 2016 to the Ministry of Finance for Financial Clearance to undertake the recruitment.
In August 2016, the Ministry of Finance wrote to the Minister of Education granting NSS clearance to recruit 207 staff to replace those who exited through various means.
The ministry of Finance made it clear in the letter dated 29 August 2016 that the recruitment must not take place before October 2016 and not later that December 31, 2016
The Ministry of Education in a letter signed by the Chief Director on Sept, 16, 2016 communicated the clearance granted by the Ministry of Finance to the Scheme.
The Board of NSS met to deliberate on the issue, and advised management to consider using a professional recruitment agency to undertake the shortlisting and interviews given the numbers involved in the time limitations imposed by the Ministry of Finance.
Management of Scheme through invited and received interest from three private Human Resource Agencies, and one (Zormelo & Associates) was chosen based on presentation of a detailed proposal and cost effectiveness.
Whiles the two other agencies had a cost of ranging between GHC 200,000 and GHC 300, 000 associated with their bid, Zormelo & Associates presented an invoice for GHC 100,000 and provided detailed information on what the process was going to entail.
The vacant positions available were widely advertised in almost all the relevant newspapers in Ghana and online including on social media.
Zormelo & Associates constituted an interview panel that consisted among others two NSS Board Members, one management staff, as well as some senior members of the Civil Service on the request on the Scheme.
Upon completion of the interviews and submission of an initial draft report with the list of those who attended the interview and the various recommendations, the Scheme receive a letter from the PSC on accounts of a position submitted by the administrator of the Scheme— Mr. Simon Peter Mckandamah arguing among others against the outsourcing of parts of the recruitment. The PSC was asking NSS to halt the process entirely on accounts of the petition.
On the directive on the Board, the Scheme wrote back to the PSC in a letter dated 17 November, 2016, explaining among others that (a) the PSC request was late because the scheme had finished the process and was finalizing letter of appointment, (b) if NSS halts the process, the deadline given by the Ministry of Finance would elapse and the scheme would spend another year more chasing clearance, while its office are empty of staff., (c) NSS also drew attention of the PSC to the fact the matters of recruitment for the scheme lie with the board as guided by the NSS ACT and principles of the Public Service
In early December, management on the Directive of the Board issue appointment letters to applicants who had successfully undergone the interview including some of the Service Personnel who were doing extended service in the NSS District officer as Volunteers.
It is important to note that those among these service personnel service in the district offices of NSS volunteers who were not successful in the interview process have since recruitment have been supported by some staff of the Scheme led by Mr. Simon Peter Mckandamah to wage a media war against the recruitment.
It is also worthy of note that the PSC CANNOT have asked the Scheme to stop recruitment just by mere receipt of a petition built on foundation of fabrications. Why did the petitioner bypassed the Board of the Scheme, the Executive Director and went straight to the Public Services commission with attention to one particular Mike Gabah? Why didn’t the PSC in proper administrative practice write first to NSS to (1) ascertain the facts pertaining to the petition, (b) the draw the Boards attention to the claims (2) request a meeting with the Board, and (3) ask the petitioner to provide evidence to support his claims?
All matters and issues pertaining to the recruitment were discussed by the Board, and only approved decisions were implemented. The records are in the various Board minutes.
Under our system of public sector management, the Executive Director cannot revoke the decisions of the Board without going back to the Board, and in matters of recruitment, you cannot revoke a person once given an appointment unless on specified grounds as indicated by the public service rules. The new management is engaged in illegality.
It is also relevant to know that the employees of NSS in question have been at post since December 15, 2016 so they have been working for the past two months.
All letters and correspondences in relation to this recruitment are available on file in the Executive Directors office at the NSS and can be verified.
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