Less than six months before the end of his presidential term, President Akufo-Addo has raised eyebrows with the appointment of two additional Deputy Managing Directors to the beleaguered Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
In a move that disregards the tradition of refraining from late government appointments ahead of elections, President Akufo-Addo authorized the nomination of Dr. Eric Effah-Donyina and Dr. Samuel Kwaku Owusu-Manu through a letter dated July 8, 2024.
The letter, transmitted by the Minister of Energy and Vice Presidential candidate Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, instructed the GNPC’s Board Chairman to facilitate the formal appointment process as per the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1983.
Critics within the corporation argue that these appointments, which are deemed more technical than political in nature, should not require direct presidential involvement. Furthermore, the GNPC is reportedly burdened by an existing surplus of personnel and financial woes resulting from past mismanagement and excessive spending on non-core activities.
Public concerns are heightened by the warning issued by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) regarding the projected collapse of the GNPC in 2026, coinciding with the expiration of state petroleum funding as stipulated by the Petroleum Management Act.
The government’s purported recruitment of over 1000 individuals, primarily affiliated with the ruling party, into the GNPC during its tenure has also attracted scrutiny, especially in light of the absence of new oil discoveries or operational advancements under its watch.
The juxtaposition of bureaucratic expansion with operational stagnation fuels skepticism about the sustainability and strategic direction of the GNPC under the current administration, further intensifying existing apprehensions surrounding the corporation’s future financial stability and efficacy.