Age cheating Deputy GCB Boss caught again

Few weeks after The Herald’s exposé on the Deputy Managing Director (MD) in charge of operations, over his multiple dates of birth, the bank, has somewhat added to the list, revealing another date of birth of the top official, causing further damage to his image.

The latest age cheating information, which puts Samuel Amankwah’s different dates of birth to three, came to light when the bank released its Annual General Meeting (AGM) report.

Mr Amankwah, who was listed among 13 directors, had his year of birth stated as 1960, contrary to what is on his passport and SSNIT records.

This means that Mr Amankwah, who was mentioned as a banker by profession, is using at least three different dates of birth on vital official documents, including his biometric Ghanaian Passport, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and office records, which is a clear case of deceit and falsification of personal data.

This brings to question the integrity of Mr Amankwah to continue working in such a sensitive position of a universal bank.

It is even more worrying because, this is a man who reportedly ensured the sacking of some staff members of the bank, claiming they got their employment with wrong WASSCE grades obtained from their senior secondary school days.

There are reports that he allegedly altered his date of birth with the GCB-bank, hence going on retirement in May next year, although he is long passed the retirement age of 60.

Currently, per the GCB’s records, he is 59-years of age, but two other documents namely, a biometric Ghanaian passport and SSNIT card, put his age at 63 and 64 years, respectively.

The passport details available to The Herald has it that it was issued him on April 29, 2016, and expires on April 28, 2021.

The type P passport numbered G1297125 was handed him in Accra, and it puts his place of birth as Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, and his date of birth as May 1, 1956, which is different from his Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) records.

Mr Amankwah’s details with SSNIT, mentions his date of birth as March 14, 1955.

His SSNIT number is F015503140059 and parents’ names as Grace Sarpong and Badu Nelson. He was registered as a member of SSNIT on December 30, 1975.

Per the two details; the SSNIT records and his current Ghanaian passport, Mr Amankwah, should have gone on compulsory retirement over three years ago, but he is still at post.

The Deputy MD, according to Herald’s sources, was instrumental in the sacking of some staff from the bank this year, using their inability to obtain less than grade “D” in their SSCE English and Mathematics, as the main reason for their dismissal.

The age cheating by the Deputy MD, comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo, booting of the director of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), Rashid Seidu Inusah.

The 62-year-old BNI boss was given a contract of two years, but after serving just two months, he was shown the exit. According to sources, some powerful people within government, called for his removal using age and other things against him.

This paper’s sources, say while dismissing him, President Akufo-Addo, directed that Mr.Inusah, be paid all his entitlements and the salary as he would have earned if he had served the two-year contract.

At the same time, the President, also relieved the Controller and Accountant-General, Eugene Ofosuhene.

Mr Ofosuhene, whose appointment as the Acting Controller and Accountant General on May 11, 2017, flouted with irregularities, was said to be sixty-seven (67) years old at the time of his engagement.

He was born on October 17, 1951, a date corroborated by the records at GIMPA, SSNIT and CAGD. This means he went home at age 68.

A letter from the presidency dated April 23, 2019, and signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, has through the Finance Minister, directed Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, to take over with effect from April 30, 2019, while efforts are underway to regularize his appointment.

The retirement age of a public officer is sixty (60) years as stipulated clearly in section 199 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

The Ghana civil service law 1993, PNDCL 327, also states the retirement age of civil servants as sixty (60) years.

In spite of these provisions above, the public service makes provision for limited engagement or contract appointment as clearly stated in the Ghana civil service document titled: ‘Guidelines on Appointments, Upgrading, Conversion and Promotions (AUCP) in the Civil Service’ 2015, section 9.0 (subsection 9.1-9.8).

It will be recalled that some eight government appointees, were in January rumoured to have been directed by the president, Nana Akufo-Addo, to proceed on compulsory retirement, because of their ages.

The said government appointees were; Mr. Eugene Ofosuhene, 67 years, 68-year-old Kofi Jumah of the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC), 67-year-old, Isaac Osei of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), 67-year-old Kwame Owusu of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) and 65-year-old Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie of the Forestry Commission.

The rest were 65-year-old Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), 64-year-old Samuel Annor of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and 65-year-old K. K Sarpong of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

Although, the government denied the rumours, but it turned out that some of them, including Kwame Owusu and Samuel Annor of the NHIA, proceeded on retirement based on the instruction of the government.