The leadership of the Volta River Authority-Northern Electricity Distribution Company (VRA-NEDCo) Staff Groups has strongly pushed back against what they describe as an illegal attempt to appoint a political figure as Corporate Communications Manager at NEDCo.
In a statement released on Monday, March 3, 2025, the staff condemned the reported appointment of Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), calling it irregular and a violation of NEDCo’s corporate governance principles.
Staff Denounce Political Interference
The controversy erupted after Mr. Salifu announced on Bolgatanga-based Dreamz FM on February 26 that he had been appointed to the position.
However, NEDCo staff insist no such official appointment has been made and warned against government interference in the company’s hiring processes.
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They argue that NEDCo, as a limited liability company under the Volta River Authority (VRA), must adhere to the Companies Act and its internal recruitment policies, rather than political directives.
Breach of Corporate Governance and Morale Concerns
The staff highlighted that the current Corporate Communications Manager has served for 20 years, rising through the ranks based on merit.
They warned that bypassing internal promotions in favor of political appointments would discourage professionalism and lower morale among employees.
“This sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the professional standards that have been the bedrock of our organization,” the statement emphasized.
Legal Concerns Over the Appointment
Citing a Supreme Court ruling in Theophilus Donkor v. The Attorney General, the staff reaffirmed that public service appointments under Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution do not extend to limited liability companies like NEDCo.
They stressed that, unlike public institutions under Article 190, NEDCo’s managerial appointments should not be dictated by political influence.
Call for Due Process in Recruitment
The staff urged the government to respect NEDCo’s recruitment policies and refrain from imposing political appointees on the company.
They insisted that all appointments must be made transparently and in line with established corporate procedures.
While the government has authority over certain public sector appointments, the statement cautioned that this power is not absolute and must be exercised within the law.
All eyes are focused on NEDCo’s management and the government’s next steps regarding the disputed appointment as tensions rise.
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