I’m a victim of collective action - Dismissed Deputy CEO of NYA cries out

Richard Joojo Obeng, one of the dismissed Deputy Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), has indicated he has done nothing wrong but he has been dismissed because of “collective action”.

Mr Obeng, who was in charge of Finance and Administration at the NYA, has responded to his dismissal by stating that he had no hand in alleged procurement breaches at the NYA.

According to him, he refused to ever approve any payments involving a company that had been contracted to train some youth in streetlights repairs.

“I refused to ever approve any payments intended to that company (Prefos). I did not approve the over one million and eight hundred thousand Cedis (GHC 1.8 million). I actually stopped the payment voucher covering that transaction and locked it up,” Mr Obeng wrote.

He went on to reveal that he is unable to say why the cheque was written despite the payment voucher having been blocked, urging investigators and prosecutors to look into the matter.

The dismissed deputy CEO further disclosed that his professional advice regarding the contract with Prefos was ignored by the CEO, Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri.

“…I discharged my duties with the highest level of patriotism and integrity and didn’t bother even if it meant becoming a victim of collective action such as this,” Mr Obeng wrote on Facebook.

Mr Obeng, along with his other deputy and the CEO, was dismissed by the President through the Youth and Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah.

No reason has been given but Mr. Obeng write up seems to confirm the rumour that they have been dismissed because of procurement breaches involving the award of a contract to Prefos to train some five hundred youths in streetlight repairs.