Information Minister dismisses media reports, says Ghana’s President never sacked any CEO

The government of Ghana has dismissed the media reports and adviced the public not to believe those reports that claimed the government has sacked eight Chief Executive Officers of state-owned enterprises on the account of their age.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information said that although the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo has prerogative powers to engage or disengage any CEO of any state-owned enterprise, the president exercises such powers in accordance with the established process. “Whilst it remains the prerogative of the president to engage or disengage the services of CEOs of state-owned enterprises, he exercises such powers after the necessary prerequisite engagements,” Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a press briefing in the capital city recently, as reported by Graphic Online.

He said “should the president at any time opt to disengage the services of any CEO, that will be done as always in accordance with established process”, noting that “Engagement between government and CEOs of state-owned enterprises are routine.” There were media reports last Friday, January 25, this year, that government has asked eight CEOs of state-owned enterprises to vacate their post due to their age.

The eight CEOs were said to have crossed the compulsory 60-year retirement age. They are: Isaac Osei, 67 years – CEO of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR); Samuel Annor, 64 years – CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority; Kwame Owusu, 67 years – CEO of Ghana Maritime Authority; Eugene Ofosuhene, 67 years – Controller and Accountant General; Kofi Jumah, 68 years – CEO of Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC); CEO of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly called Sir John, 65 years; K. K Sarpong, 65 years – CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); and Anthony Nsiah-Asare, 65 years – Director General of the Ghana Health Service.

“Now, the general public is advised to disregard media reportage that these persons as you see their names and photos in Instagram have been ordered to vacate their posts on the account of their age,” Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said.