Minister Apraku's Cousin in trouble ....

Nbssi Workers Rise Against Boss ...accuse him of extravagance

Chronicle investigations have revealed that the Executive Director of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Nana (Dr.) Baah Boakye, former Principal of Accra Polytechnic and cousin of Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, is in the middle of a storm over his perceived extravagance, following his appointment as Director of the board.

Currently, workers at the NBSSI are up in arms, calling on the Government of President John A. Kufuor to act swiftly to save the board from imminent collapse.

At Accra Polytechnic, Dr. Baah Boakye was the subject of repeated attacks by most students and staff, who also jubilated over his exit.

Chronicle gathered that shortly after Nana's appointment as Executive Director of the Board, he requested a brand new Volkswagen Passat saloon car, that cost the board US $24,000.00.

The registration number of the car is GW 4135.

His next demand included renovation and refurnishing of his bungalow and office even though reports said that his predecessor left the office in good taste.

Chronicle learnt after these requests were met, Nana not being satisfied, complained about the colour of the car and asked that it be changed.

What is more, he refused to stay in the house because it was not air-conditioned and that its light switches were of inferior quality.

The light switches, Chronicle gathered, were later replaced with expensive ones and a split air-conditioner bought.

As if that was not enough, Nana asked that his office chair be replaced with a more expensive one because he allegedly felt that the old chair was not fit for his status.

When contacted, Nana confirmed complaining about the colour of the car and the quality of the chair in his office but he has since accepted using both.

He, however, denied requesting a fully furnished, renovated bungalow and ever refusing to stay in it because it was not air-conditioned and that the switches were inferior.

Nana was said to have been appointed by his cousin, Dr. Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, who has oversight responsibilities for the NBSSI (even though he denied being appointed by the Minister).

It was learnt that after all these luxuries, the workers thought that Nana would have performed more than anybody else who had ever headed NBSSI but to their amazement the place has sunk to its lowest ebb.

Investigations confirmed that most of the board's fleet of cars have broken down and some are at one Eric Gakpetor's workshop in Accra, whilst two are parked at the board's premises.

The vehicles include GV 8423C, GV9153C, GV9146C, GR 8237H, GR 473M, GR 3428P.

It was further learnt that, instead of Nana seeing to the repair of these cars so that drivers of the board could get work to do, he is rather complaining about their idleness, allegedly saying that he does not see the reason why so many drivers should be employed for doing no work.

Besides the vehicles being abandoned at the workshop due to what Nana described as the no-money syndrome, it was confirmed that the intercom in the boardroom has broken down and one would have to walk from his office to come and receive a call down-stairs.

Other issues the workers are bitter about include the delay in payment of their medical bills and the issuing of less than one gallon a day for the few cars that are in use, a ?40,000 worth of diesel per week to a vehicle like a four-wheel drive with six-cylinder engines.

Nana also confirmed to Chronicle that some of the board's cars were at a workshop in Accra and he had been able to repair some, but maintained that some of those cars had been at the workshop before he assumed office in October, last year.

The Transport Officer of the board, Mr. Anim, who also confirmed the plates of the vehicles, confirmed this.

About the intercom, Nana stated that when he came in the intercom had broken down almost three times and therefore requested that they seek the best way out of the situation.

According to him, the machine is an analogue device and the decision was that they had to buy a digital one which would have to extend to several lines and this is being worked upon.

With regard to the delay in the payment of medical bills and the allocation of ?40.000 worth of diesel per week, Nana said the amount mentioned is the minimum allocation and that anytime those vehicles run out of fuel, drivers can put in a supplementary request.

On the medical bills Nana denied ever claiming medical bills himself but confirmed that there are delays in payment because the money comes from the government.

Nana, however, expressed regrets that workers should be complaining that he has not done much for improvement on the board.