Something must have gone wrong in the Akufo-Addo government as two individuals got appointed as Managing Directors for the state-owned Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) within 24 hours, following the imminent departure of Kwame Agyeman–Budu.
None of the two appointments had come from the Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Aside a turf war, the situation confirms the scramble for state assets and resources which has characterized the Akufo-Addo government since its inception with traces found in the botched Power Distribution Services (PDS) deal which coincidentally was to have the private sector use a consortium of foreign and local companies to manage ECG.
The same scramble had found its way the off-and-on Agyapa Royalties deal, which had had two of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s relatives; Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, already profiting from the deal through their private companies; Africa Legal Associates and Databank Financial Services respectively, even before the transactions is completed.
The development also confirms the lack of control that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo has over state issues and the roles his family members are playing in his government.
Kwame Agyeman–Budu, who had been serving as MD of ECG, had long attained the statutory retirement age, and was expected to step down yesterday, Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
But five days ahead of departure, specifically on May 12, ECG’s Deputy Managing Director responsible for sales, customer service and finance, Jones Ofori–Addo was announced as the Acting Managing Director of ECG while the government finalizes the hunt for a substantive MD.
However, in less than 24 hours later, came another notification; a letter dated May 13th announcing the nomination of a substantive MD. The Presidency, had in the letter urged the Energy Ministry led by Matthew Opoku Prempeh to trigger necessary modalities to facilitate Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama’s regularisation in accordance with Company Act, 2019 (Act 992).
While the appointment of Engineer Ofori-Addo, had come from an internal memo from EGC and got published by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s Asaase Radio, that of Samuel Mahama was captured in a letter from the Presidency and signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Executive Secretary to the President, who is sometimes described as an archrival of Gabby. They are both cousins of President Akufo-Addo.
The ECG circular numbered 2022/139, and dated 12th May 2022 was signed by Cynthia Amartey, identified as ECG director in charge of human resources, said Ofori-Addo’s appointment takes effect from 13 May 2022, but the President’s letter torpedoed the arrangement.
It had read: “Acting appointment –Ing. Jones Ofori-Addo. Following the age retirement of the Managing Director, Mr. Kwame Agyeman-Budu, Ing, Jones Ofori-Addo, Deputy Managing Director, Sales & Customer Service/Finance & Corporate Service has been appointed to act as Managing Director until substantive is appointed”.
“This appointment takes effect from 13th May, 2022”, said the circular adding, “all staff are expected to give him the maximum support in the discharge of his duties.”
It was copied to a list of personnel including directors, general managers, supervisors and the general secretary of the Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU).
The president’s letter had the heading “Appointment of managing director of the Electricity Company Ghana Limited” and it said “The President, has nominated Mr. Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama for appointment as the Managing Director of the Electricity Company Ghana Limited (the Company).
“Kindly take necessary steps to regularise the said appointment in accordance with the relevant provisions of the companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) and the regulations of the Company.
“The letter has copied the Vice-President, the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Energy and the Chairperson of the ECG.
It is not clear why none of the two appointments had come from the Energy Minister.
Prior to this, Samuel Mahama, was a non-executive Director at the ECG, and had previously worked as a non-executive director at GIHOC Distilleries, Country representative for Gulfsouth Forest Products, Partner at Dubik & Associates, Wilkins Engineering among others.
He is a legal practitioner and a graduate of the University of Ghana.
