Some strange appointments are being made at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) which insiders reckon are not in the best interest of the state.
GNPC, they said, is bankrupt yet appointments to senior management positions are being made which will put more financial pressure on the institution and a time when GNPC, has resorted to borrowing to pay salaries.
The Chief Executive of Officer (CEO) of GNPC, Kofi Koduah Sarpong, has turned his attention towards the vacant Offinso stool in the Ashanti Region pulling every string within his grasp to become the next Offinsohene, although The Herald’s sources in Offinso, have revealed he is up against some 16 candidates.
The newly appointed managers, have their salaries pegged at GHC35, 000 each per month aside a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as part of the benefits of being General Managers.
The names picked up so far include, Anthony Ampofo, who had been made General Management for Commercial, Adwoa Wiafe, who has been promoted to the position of General Manager in-charge of Legal,
Alex Kwarteng, has been promoted to the position of General Manager Projects, while Cherisson Shooter, has been made the General Manager Finance
The board also approved Dr. Patrick Ofori said to be one KK Sarpong’s errand boys from Kumasi Asante Kotoko, to the position of manager marketing.
The Herald’s information is that, there are already other General Managers.
They include, Victor Sunu Attah, who is the General Manager in-charge of Engineering, Kwame Baah Nuako – who is the General Manager in-charge of Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations, Ben Asante for Geoscience and James Yamoah for Health Safety and Environment (HSE).
On the Offinsohene, One week observation ceremony for the passing of the late Offinsomanhene, Nana WiafeAkenteng III, began last on November 26, 2021, and was expected to end Monday November 29, 2021.
The solemn event, believed to be heavily sponsored by Mr Sarpong, had seen some town folks shouting Nana ooh! Nana ooh!
It is, however, uncertain if he is qualified for the role and whether he is the most suitable candidate for the position.
Nana Wiafe Akenteng III, the Paramount Chief of Offinso, who was the third in command of the Ashanti Kingdom, passed on in October, this year and is yet to be buried, however, candidates, including KK Sarpong, have started jostling for the stool.
The respected soft-spoken Nana Wiafe Akenteng III, who was a businessman died on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he was receiving treatment after falling ill.
Reports are that KK Sarpong has been frequenting the area in recent times and made inroads into the minds of some traditional authorities there.
This paper’s sources on the ground, alleged that GNPC resources were being used to propagate KK Sarpong’s bid to become the next Offinsomanhene.
They mentioned how top management of GNPC, who are mainly KK Sarpong’s prodigies and who’s appointment into GNPC was made by him, have all been knotted and pulled to Offinso to campaign for their Godfather in his bid to become the next Offinsomanhene.
Officers counted there include; Ben Acolatse : GNPC’s Deputy Chief Executive Finance and Administration.
Kwame Baah Nuako: General Manager for Sustainability and Stakeholder relations at GNPC; a long time errand boy of Mr Sarpong from his days at Kumasi Asante Kotoko, as well as Royal Bank Ghana Limited.
Patrick Ofori: a former Physical Education teacher who has been appointed Manager for Crude oil products marketing at GNPSC.
All GNPC protocol department staff, had reportedly been moved to Offinso at the expense of the taxpayer and are providing services at the beck and call of KK Sarpong.
GNPC vehicles (SUV’s and pick-ups) have been moved to Offinso to chauffeur KK Sarpong and his dignitaries and GNPC management staff that have been stationed in the town.
Meanwhile, Mr KK Sarpong, was expected to be in court on Monday in the case in which the editor of The Herald newspaper sued him over his age, 68, and continuous stay in office as GNPC boss.
He instead sent one Elizabeth Coleman, an official of GNPC’s legal department to represent him and GNPC.
Lawyer Sam Kyere, an ex-staff of GNPC, but currently with the law firm of Ossei-Aidooh Akpokavie Kyere& Co, was at the Labour Court Two to represent Mr Sarpong and the GNPC.
The Attorney-General, the third defendant in the case, did not show up.
The case was adjourned to February 8, 2022, for a case management conference.
The court directed all the parties to file their witness statements ahead of that day.
