The president and CEO of GNPC, chairman of the board of directors in the territory war on the hiring of purchasing manager

General News of Saturday, February 16, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-02-16

The hiring of a Procurement Officer at the Ghana Oil Corporation (GNPC) appears to be causing a misunderstanding between the Company's CEO and Chairman of the Board, Freddie Blay.

A directive issued by the chairman of the board of directors to the director seems to have aroused the anger of the CEO, Dr. K.K. Sarpong who asked why the order had been given in his absence and without his consent.

In a confidential letter at the sight of Joy News, Blay is reprimanded for overstepping his line by ordering the CFO to hire a Procurement Officer.

"The operational organization of the GNPC entrusts the direct supervision of the purchasing function to the Chief Executive Officer (Administration), which however reports to the Chief Finance Officer. Supervising the purchasing function does not give the CFO the appointing authority under the GNPC rules and regulations.

"I want to reiterate that the responsibility for hiring staff is the responsibility of the CEO and not the CFO. I have already informed Ms. Comfort Aniagyei, Chief Financial Officer, that she had no mandate to recruit staff, notwithstanding your directive, unless I specifically request it, "said the Dr. Sarpong.

The Director General also questioned Mr. Blay's decision to interfere in a case that fell exclusively within his jurisdiction and said that such actions would be "rescinded, your direction notwithstanding".

He pointed out that, in accordance with good corporate governance practices, the chairman of the board, the secretary of the board and the internal auditor are in touch with the chairman of a board of directors with an organization.

For Dr. Sarpong, therefore, it was improper that Mr. Blay deals directly with the subordinates of a CEO.

"By such conduct, the president destroys parallel authority in the organization, making governance and management extremely difficult. This is exactly the situation you created in GNPC. "

He acknowledged the difficulties that tainted the company's purchasing procedures, but stated that he was responsible for rectifying things and that he was doing so.

Mr. Blay's intervention, in his opinion, is unnecessary.

Dr. Sarpong accused Mr. Blay, chairman of the ruling NPP, for using his position in the party to advance matters that need to be handled professionally.

"I will humbly advise you to refrain from giving instructions to my subordinates and to deal with me, as Director General, on issues relating to the Society," he added.

He insists that the decision to recruit or not to hire staff is the responsibility of the CEO and that Mr. Blay's involvement through staff under his authority undermines the legitimacy of his authority.

"Your role as chairman of the board does not extend to executive functions, including recruiting employees," Dr. Sarpong added in his letter.

In response to the CEO's letter, Mr. Blay criticized him for making baseless accusations against him and questioned the integrity of the board of directors.

He stated that Dr. Sarpong was solely the Executive Director and was subject to the Board of Directors and that his argument in disagreement with directives issued in his absence was moot.

"The day-to-day management role and activities of the GNPC, delegated by the Board of Directors to the President and Chief Executive Officer, can not and do not end when the Executive Director is temporarily away from the country or on vacation.

"Indeed, global best practices recommend that a good and knowledgeable CEO have a succession plan from management in this context. The CEO gives way to an alternate, who continues to badume the day-to-day business management duties in his absence, "Mr. Blay said in his letter.

He added that in the specific case in question, the law stipulates that "an officer of the company must be appointed by the board" to badume the duties of managing director in his absence.

Therefore, the order given to the CFO, who is a senior manager, is not moved.

The chairman of the PNP said that a board meeting at which orders were given for the hiring of the new director became necessary in the light of recent and widespread discussions in the space public.

He pointed out that it became necessary to ensure that the Committee's employment contract, appointment and retention of Dr. Sarpong did not violate any provision of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, including Article 199.

His complaint, that decisions were made in his absence, is not here or there, because "if you were in office, you would have been denied your participation in the discussion on this particular issue."

He does not agree with the accusation that he unnecessarily stings his nose where he does not belong and uses his position within the ruling party to influence decision-making. to the GNPC.

Mr. Blay stated that he found the complaint "malicious as malicious". It is cleverly calculated to damage my name and reputation and the independence of the Commission and its decisions. I'm having fun there seriously. "

He, in turn, accused Dr. Sarpong of having a weak management style that led the Central Tender Board to question the Company's purchasing practices.

"The truth is, under your direction and your supervision; our company has not had a purchasing manager for so long, despite the direction of the board of directors at your office to take the necessary steps to fill this position. This breach of duty simply can not last.

"Playing the blame game, in which you are now engaged, will not pbad. Liability stops with you, Dr. K.K. Sarpong, as CEO. Please understand very clearly that the recent directive of the Board of Directors and the two-week ultimatum on this issue were communicated to the CFO, also in his capacity as Acting CEO, at the meeting. emergency. The ultimatum rises and it is up to you to comply with it or not to take it into account. "

He added that Dr. Sarpong was totally wrong to badume that he was the appointing authority and that he could override the decision and directions of the board of directors.

"It should be clear to you that it is the board of directors and not the general manager who is the appointing authority. The professionalism, to which you refer in your letter, requires that the CEO of a state-owned entity act in accordance with the law and respect it.

"Although you have to take the initiative, you are legally and professionally obliged to seek the approval of the board of directors for all recruitments and restructurings," he said.