Labour Expert asks: Was ECG Board involved in MD’s dismissal?

A former Deputy Chairman of the National Labour Commission, Danso Acheampong has wondered if the Board of national power distributor Electricity Company of Ghana had any say or involvement in the dismissal of the limited liability state-owned company’s Managing Director William Hutton-Mensah.

The President relieved the Reverend Minister of his post Saturday as part of measures to restructure the energy sector. He also created a new Ministry of Power to be dedicated to improving power supply in the country.

Hutton-Mensah has also been directed to report to the Energy Minister for reassignment. However, staff of ECG have held a number of demonstrations to demand his reinstatement.

Speaking to STARR NEWS about the ECG MD’s dismissal – while he was on his annual leave – and the agitations that have followed, Acheampong asked whether the President usurped the authority of the Board in effecting the sacking or if he worked with the Board in doing so.

According to him, it will be inappropriate for the President to sidestep the Board in sacking the MD – if that were the case – since the company, although owned by the state, is a limited liability firm.

Staff of ECG are demanding Hutton-Mensah’s reinstatement go on strike.