Local Gov’t Head Forced To Retreat After Mafia Ghc6000 Ransom For Promotion Blows Over

The Office of The Head of Local Government Service (OHLGS) has been forced to suspend a three-day workshop for persons shortlisted for a promotion within the Local Government Service after his demand of a dizzying Ghc6000 from each candidate blew over.

In an 11th March 2022 letter from the office of Head of Service, candidates were told that the expensive workshop had been called off for broader consultation.

“Following concerns raised by some staff, the Head of Service has directed the immediate suspension of the workshop. A new date would be communicated to applicants after a broader consultation,” the crux of the letter read.

It was signed by Chief Director, James Oppong-Mensah for the Head of Service.

Earlier in March, a letter was written by the same James Oppong-Mensah to candidates shortlisted for promotion to the position of Deputy Director “and analogous grades” announced, “a 3-day high-level residential refresher training workshop to prepare the officers for the impending interviews.”

In other words, the Office of the Head of Service had decided to organize a training workshop to promote candidates, but they must first pay a whopping Ghc6,000 per person.

The number of candidates stated is 240. This means the sum of all the candidates would come down to a staggering Ghc1,440,000.

According to the letter, “the amount will be used to cater for the training materials, accommodation, feeding as well as the administrative cost of the interview.” But critics have pointed out that no way can a three-day seminar for promotion cost that high.