Govt Accused of Tribalism at TOR

....key strategic positions goes to Ashantis
Tema (Greater Accra) -- It began as murmurs and rumours of discontent, particularly from the Gas, then the Akyems and now the Fantes. But the Chronicle has picked up positive complaints about the cornering of key strategic positions by only ?desirables? from the new political region- Ashanti.

The Ga-Dangmes have openly made an issue of it, and The Ghanaian Chronicle inquiries and pieces of complaints appear to confirm a benign consummation of what may be difficult to argue way to be coincidental, but an explosive development that may have to be discussed and managed before it goes out of hand.

The strategically important oil sector is now completely cornered, and the last major beach head is going to be filled by a desirable with the certain clearing away of an acting chief. The imminent replacement of Robert Forson and the substantive chief executive, Dr Yaw Akoto, will complete a trio of ?desirables? in the oil and energy sector with Kan Dapaah as minister- all from one region.

Even under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, it was a different set up. The deliberate removal of Dr Akoto was so bereft of reason that a huge con game had to be played with the sacking of the entire board with an unconvincing alibi that he was not getting on with his board chairman, Adu Gyamfi, a private sector businessman from Ashanti Region.

When no one was looking the same board was recalled without one person, Dr Akoto, described as a genius but an Ewe. A similarly qualified replacement can never be found in Ghana as he remains the most qualified man in the country for the job. He hold a double masters in engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MBA and a PhD from Harvard University plus sterling work exposure and experience in the industry in the United States.

The paper?s investigations last week indicated Dr Akoto had declined to take a compensatory job at the Ministry of Energy as Director of Petroleum. The NDC administration had been accused of favouring Ewes but fresh leaks from within indicated that a ?desirable? from the region of choice with accomplishment and relevant experience in accounting has been tapped for the TOR position but a charade is going on as if there is a serious scouting for a CEO.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) CEO position earlier earmarked for Mr Awotwi of Goldfields Company (AGC) fell through because of wage differential, and went to the one who acutely tried to scuttle the Kufuor presidential ascension.

Dr Wereko Brobby, the loud-mouthed nephew of the late Victor Owusu, metamorphosed from board chairman to become CEO under circumstances that never be rationalised. The Ghanaian Chronicle has obtained and read enough documents that show how the last CEO after Kalitsi (from Volta Region) was outfoxed by ?Tarzan? and eased out.

Even though he singularly worked hardest to derail Kufuor chances, Wereko Brobby knows why he enjoys proximity to the President and virtually controls Kan Dapaah who on the other hand enjoys public popularity.

The story of Dotse (ex-CEO of VRA) is a pathetic one that will be detailed eventually, but he is yet to be paid his entitlements. As Wereko Brobby publicly beats his chest about and ignores Dotse?s pleas and petitions. Jones Ofori Atta, the VRA Board Chairman also refuses to act on his pleas for his entitlements after being tricked by Wereko Brobby who insists that he writes and signs his own resignation letter.

Over at Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), a more pathetic scenario has quietly taken place. The Acting CEO, Dr Quaah, said to be a Fante, was removed and replaced by a banker from Ashanti Region, a Mr Owusu.

Dr Quaah, a geologist has filed legal action to restrain the government from taking his official car from him after working at GNPC for 16 years. The details of the massacre at GNPC is being prepared by the Chronicle and may go to give some credence to some of the complaints filtering through.

Accounting are rarely moulded to be chief executives as a rule of thumb, rather they are trained to be chief finance officers but within the next few days, an announcement scheduled to go out anointing the new king at TOR, K.K. Sarpong who is currently completing a tour of duty at the International Cocoa Institute in London as the new CEO.

One of the applicants for the position was the current acting managing director, an old hand at TOR for decades, Robert Forson, a Fante who will not get the job though he is best suited. The Ghanaian Chronicle will begin an investigation into the background and activities of K.K. Sarpong who, with P.V. Obeng and his former boss, Atiemo, were among a handful of public office holders hauled before the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) by the publisher of the Chronicle, Nana Kofi Coomson in 1996.

Along with the brother of Finance minister, Osafo Maafo, a white paper was issued by the Rawlings government clearing all of them. Sarpong will be the second from the Ashanti Region among the CHRAJ appellants to be appointed by the current government in a senior position, first being P.V. Obeng, a close friend and associate of the Asante royal house.

Last month, Kan Dapaah in an interview, told the paper that a new CEO will soon be appointed to take over administration of the TOR. Hon Dapaah said the background of the new CEO is not relevant provided that he proves to be a good manager.

According to him, the Dr Richardson headed Interim Management Committee (IMC) was put in place to hold the fort following the confusion that erupted after the exit of Dr Yaw Akoto, TOR?s CEO.

The minister stated that the inability to fix realistic prices for petroleum products is insulated from the refinery?s management problems. The Chronicle investigations showed that one financial institution, the Ghana Commercial Bank alone is reeling under the TOR?s 3.4tr cedis debt.