Malaysians finally leave Ghana Telecom

The six Malaysian former management members of Ghana Telecom, recently embroiled in a stand-off with the company over the termination of their appointment, have finally left the country.

They include Dato Abdul Malik Mohammed, former Managing Director who left without officially handing over to the Interim Management Committee (IMC) appointed by the government to oversee the operations of the company.

Sources close to the IMC told the Ghanaian Times newspaper that the former MD flew out on Saturday, August 17, while Mr Mohd Yussof Mohd Ali, Senior General Manager (QMSS) left on August 23.

But Dato Mohammed will return temporarily in the first week of September to partake in meetings over the valuation of 30 per cent shares of Telekom Malaysia, which the government has offered to buy.

The sources denied a report in an Accra bi-weekly that the IMC has frozen the wages and ex-gratia awards due the expatriates until Dato Mohammed hands over the reins of administration. “They do not have any such emoluments to collect and how can the IMC withhold them?” the sources asked.

The four other members left on August 16. They are Muinnuddin Mohammed, Chief Marketing Officer; Rosli Saran, Chief Strategy Officer; Ab Rahim Saleh, General Manager, Mobile Operations and Safian Md Yassin, Manager Mobile Billing.

Asked if the former MD’s action would affect the effective administration of Ghana Telecom in any way, the sources said it would not. The government abrogated the contract with Telekom Malaysia following anomalies arising out of the contract and some breaches by the Malaysians.

First the government was dissatisfied with the situation where the Malaysians with only 30 per cent share in Ghana Telecom, constituted the management. Secondly, despite their minority stake in the company, they had majority representation on the board.

Consequently the government appointed an IMC to administer the company and directed the Malaysians to hand over to the IMC.