Akufo-Addo sacks NYA CEO, two deputies

President Akufo-Addo has sacked the CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri, and his two deputies over procurement breaches.

The two deputies are Mr. Richard Ebbah Obeng and Bright Acheampong.

“I regret to inform you that the President of the Republic has terminated your appointment,” the sports minister Isaac Asiamah who has oversight responsibility on the Authority said in their termination letters.

“Please ensure that you hand over and cease to act” not later than close of business on Wednesday, 4th September, 2019, the termination letter dated Tuesday, September 3, 2019, said.

The trio will hand over to the Director of Technical Projects of the Authority, Emmanuel Anaman-Mensah.

A few weeks ago, a member of the board of the Authority Arnold Boateng resigned over what he termed as “real issues.”

Background

The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, last Friday ordered Mr. Asigri to step aside over a petition brought before her against the CEO for engaging in questionable procurement practices.

The Public Procurement Authority has reportedly being asked to investigate the allegations against Asigri.

Procurement breaches

The NYA chair, Francisca Oteng, confirmed one procurement in which the CEO had allegedly breached procedures, awarding the said contract without the knowledge of the board, the Daily Statesman reports.

This matter was referred to the PPA last month to investigate. The PPA assigned a team of investigators to gather information on it.

The NYA board acted following receipt of a petition from one Ibrahim Ofori alleging corruption relating to procurement. The board met to confer on the matter on July 2 2019.

The NYA chair followed this up with a letter to the Minister of Youth and Sports on July 10.

Criminal investigations?

In contention is the procurement method used to engage Prefos Ltd for training 500 young people o instal, maintain and repair streetlights. The value of the procurement in question is GHS4.5 million.

Security officials will look to the PPA investigation to determine whether the matter should be reported to the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.