Civil society groups are calling on President Akufo-Addo and the Energy minister to immediately intervene in the impasse between the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMCL) Frances Essiam and the board of the company.
It comes after the board, in a leaked letter, demanded the CEO to provide explanations for some financial decisions she has made since taking office last year.
Essiam has ordered the company to be locked up today, Tuesday, May 8 over reports the board intends holding a meeting at the premises today. She, however, denies the allegations of financial malpractices.
“For all the things that he [board chairman] said, I will take the appropriate means administratively, legally to seek redress and repair my image. The law will take its course…and trust me the law will take its course because I am talking as a woman whose reputation is being wounded,” she told Starr News Monday.
Commenting on the development, anti-corruption campaigner Vitus Azeem urged the appointing authority step in and restore order.
“President Akufo-Addo or the Minister who oversees the company may have to come in very soon to resolve the matter. Obviously, there is friction between the CEO and the Board Chair. The CEO is answerable to the Board and so the Board has the power to ask the CEO to do what is right”.
Also in the view of IMANI Ghana, the Energy minister who has direct responsibility over the company must swiftly act.
“The Energy Minister may have to step in to handle the issue at GCMC. The issues under contention will have to be looked at as well. The Minister should launch a commission of inquiry. The company should not be shut down on the orders of the CEO especially when there is nothing to hide,” Vice President of IMANI Africa Selorm Brantie told Francis Abban.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
