The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Julius Kpekpena, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, are among the high-profile public officials impacted by President John Mahama’s suspension of post-retirement contract appointments.
Mr Kpekpena, who turned sixty in February 2025, has reached the compulsory retirement age and would typically have been expected to leave office.
The IGP, Mr Yohuno, is officially 59, but will no longer benefit from the post-retirement contract extensions that became commonplace under former President Nana Akufo-Addo—arrangements that often denied other capable officers the opportunity for career progression.
However, Mr Yohuno, whose date of birth is December 27, 1965, will have to leave office by November of year, due to Mahama’s suspension of post-retirement contract appointments.
Interestingly, at the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Kwame Asuah Takyi, was kept in office as the Comptroller-General Service with several post-retirement contracts, while many junior officers, were compelled to exit upon reaching their retirement milestone, raising concerns over politicisation, favouritism, and personal bias within the system.
Notably, former boss of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Bright Oduro, was directed to proceed on terminal leave prior to retirement, while James Oppong-Boanuh, remained in service long past his retirement age—receiving two post-retirement contract extensions before eventually handing over to Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
In a major policy shift, the Office of the President, has now issued a directive suspending all such contract appointments within the public sector, with immediate effect.
A letter dated April 2, 2025, signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, stated:
“The grant of post-retirement contract appointments to retired public service staff has been suspended with immediate effect.”
The statement further stressed that all new requests for such appointments “will no longer be considered.”
Public institutions, have been instructed to comply fully with the directive. “Kindly take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance,” the notice concluded.
Though the directive did not provide explicit reasons for the decision, it suggests a broader policy realignment concerning post-retirement employment within the public service.
Some observers see Mr Kpekpena’s continued role at ECG as problematic.
Prior to his appointment, he served as Director of Engineering at ECG, before resigning to become Chief Operations Officer at the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA).
He played a key role in the Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal, a controversial concession arrangement that was later terminated by President Akufo-Addo’s administration.
Even after the contract was cancelled, Mr Kpekpena, remained a vocal defender of the PDS takeover.
His association with the deal and the perception of his strong personality, have led to internal concerns, with some ECG staff and union members, reportedly uneasy about his leadership.
Critics argue that appointing individuals deeply involved in the PDS saga to leadership positions at ECG, undermines the integrity of any future investigations into the deal.
As one critic put it: “How can the government credibly investigate the PDS deal, if those who managed it are now heading ECG?”
There are growing concerns that President Mahama’s attempts to probe potential irregularities at ECG and during the PDS era, could be compromised if such appointments are allowed to stand.
