I resigned as Fair Wages boss due to political interference – George Graham

The former CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, George Smith Graham has indicated that his resigned due to political interference and unpopular decisions by government.

Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show, Monday, George Smith Graham told the host Winston Amoah there were a number of occasions that he put in his resignation due to the undue intereferences but were rejected.

“As a Commission, we needed to hold the legal mandate of the Commission and not allow anybody to do anything that would affect the legal mandate of the commission…

“There were also times that I met situations at the Flagstaff House and Castle that I dared government that if it went ahead to take certain decisions I would resign,” he recalled.

Asked why he took that stance, George Smith Graham was emphatic that “government felt it was politically right to take certain decisions but although the rippling would affect the government, you have a credibility as a CEO, you have a law that backs you and if the government wants to do anything, let them use the appropriate channels by amending the laws but not to take administrative decisions that has absolutely no relation to what we do’.

Reiterating that it was a “really tough” situation, he expressed the hope that the new CEO, Dr. Edward Kwapong “will be given the free hand to do his work”.

Dr. Edward Kwarpong was appointed Acting CEO by President Akufo-Addo in May 2017, coming into office with a vast experience in the areas of job evaluation, organizational review and development, performance management, salary administration, career/succession planning as well as leadership development.

Until his appointment, he was the Chief Executive of HR Perspective Ltd, an HR Consultancy firm.