The Board Chairman of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA), Peter Mac-Manu has threatened to sue the workers union over allegations of misconduct.
Members of the union issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to relieve Mr Manu of his position.
[contextly_sidebar id=”AbQkVOMsl4zdbXP4FTUrEJ8PQkHY9MgR”]The Union in a press release alleged Mr Manu had been running a family and friends’ administration since he became Board Chair.
Chairman of the Union, Joseph Assib accused Mr Mac Manu of conflict of interest.
“The Board Chairman’s wife has taken over ticketing for staff travels, and the Authority is being priced at cut-throat prices. We are paying two, three times more than other competitors are offering for ticketing and pricing at the Authority,” Mr Assib complained.
Mr Assib also accused Mr Manu of registering some seven companies and awarding contracts to same, without seeking the Board’s approval.
“The Board Chairman has seven companies in the port. The Chairman has three of his children as the biggest suppliers to the Authority. He has obtained for himself a contract of over GHC 4 million for the wiring of our newly constructed electrical and material block. He is intimidating management staff and as well interfering in the day to day running of the Authority,” said Mr Assibit.
At a press conference in Accra today [Tuesday], the GPHA Board Chair however, said these allegations were false.
“If the Union think they can still spew lies to damage me and by extension to GPHA and government that we are corrupt as many people are saying on their Facebook wall, then I am sorry that we have a long way to go as a country. We will not allow falsehood to run over truths and that is why I am setting this record, and from here the lawyers will follow.”
Other cases at public institutions
Mr. Mac Manu isn’t the first chairman of the board of a public institution has been accused of corruption.
Just recently, about 60 workers of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in Kumasi called for the immediate removal of their Board Chairman, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang.
The workers accused Mr Owusu-Agyemang of usurping the roles of the Chief Executive of the company and denying the workers what is due them.
The angry workers, held placards at the May Day event at the Baba Yara Sports stadium in Kumasi a few weeks ago, with inscriptions conveying their demands and called for the removal of the Board Chair.
Mr Hackman has however dismissed these allegations, saying workers were only fighting against his transformation agenda for the company.
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By: Marian Ansah/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
