The Herald, has obtained additional information on the demand by the former Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) boss to get some US$1 million from the corporation as severance pay, contrary to his employment contract.
The Herald, had picked information from its sources within GNPC, that the lawyers of the Corporation, received the court summons, but strangely refused to disclose this to management for early response.
The case was filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, K. T. Hammond as the lawyer for Dr KK Sarpong.
GNPC on the other hand, is being represented by the a legal firm belonging to Lawyer Osei Aidoo, onetime NPP MP for Tema West, who was a Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs during his time in Parliament under the Kufuor administration.
At GNPC, the law firm of Lawyer Aidoo, is being accused of a conflict of interest situation concerning this legal case. It is being alleged that Mr Aidoo, and Dr Sarpong, are said to be secondary school mates through to university.
It is further alleged that Dr Sarpong, appointed Lawyer Aidoo’s law firm as GNPC’s external lawyers on sole source basis.
There are reports that there is even an issue of his sole sourced procurement at the PPA currently.
Many have sought to question what strong defence Lawyer Osei Aidoo’s law firm will mount in defence of GNPC against KK Sarpong.
Until yesterday, they had had left the Corporation facing judgment debt, over failure to file an appearance, as well as a defense against the “illegal” End of Service Benefit (ESB), as of last Monday.
Many in the Corporation, felt the conduct by the lawyers was deliberate to allow the court to authorize the ESB as a result of lack of defense.
The former CEO was employed for five years, after which the government refused to renew his contract.
The contract provided for separation pay for early terminations of the contract, but not when he had completed his 5-year tenure.
It is, therefore, surprising that Dr Sarpong is pursuing separation pay, although he exhausted his contract terms.
Regrettably, Ghana has a president who condones any act that siphons resources from the state.
But The Herald is informed that both the management of the GNPC led by Ahweneeh Danquah and the Board of Director led Freddie Blay, have refused to pay the US$1 million, insisting that doing so will amount to causing financial loss to the state.
The contract lists the following upon early termination; 1. Upon separation from the Corporation, The Chief Executive shall, if termination is before the end of his contract, be entitled to six (6) months’ notice upon payment of six (6) months basic salary in lieu of notice. Taxes due shall be borne by the Corporation.
2. Be entitled to four (4) months of his monthly gross salary for each year worked, as separation pay.
3. Be paid 30% of his full annual gross salary as performance bonus.
Since The Herald broke the story about the demands of the former CEO, the corporation has refused to pay Dr Sarpong the money.
But he consequently took GNPC to court to compel the corporation to pay him GHS 9,000,000, equivalent to US$100, 000, 000.
The Herald has picked information from sources within GNPC that the lawyers of the Corporation received the court summons and refused to disclose to management for early response.
Consequently, if GNPC fails to make an appearance today, Monday, December 12, 2022, the court will make a determination and award judgment against the corporation.
The Herald is informed that the lawyers of the corporation are deliberately undermining GNPC to serve the quest of the person who gave them so much power within the organization.
