The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers [COPEC], has called on the President to intervene in the current impasse at the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company [GCMC].
According to COPEC, the board of directors of the company should also be asked to step aside while investigations commence into the current standoff in the company.
“We want the President to as a matter of urgency, before close of day, step in, call for calm, call for all parties to step aside while investigations are done on the issue at hand to ascertain allegations of corruption leveled against madam Frances. If the allegations are found to be true, the laws of the land must deal with her, but if the investigations reveal that Madam Essiam has done nothing wrong, I’m sure the board would apologize if they have to,” Executive Director of COPEC, Duncan Amoah said.
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The Board suspended Chief Executive Officer of the company, Frances Essiam on Tuesday over claims that she has mismanaged GCMC, and also awarded some contracts without the approval of the Board or the Energy Ministry.
Prior to the suspension, the board queried madam Essiam over allegations of mismanagement.
She reportedly locked out the board members out of the office on Tuesday, and asked the workers to go home after picking signals that the board has scheduled a meeting at the premises of the company.
Meanwhile, speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, said the President’s intervention is needed to ensure calm returns to the company.
This he said is because the person nominated by the board to serve in an acting position while Essiam remains on suspension may face stiff opposition from the suspended CEO.
“Whiles she is still occupying the office, a substantive person has also been asked to take over. If that substantive person goes there today, you are assured of a fight at Ghana Cylinder that would not help anyone. These are needless boardroom wrangling that could be prevented,” he added.
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Duncan Amoah further said the impasse does not augur well for the government’s quest to reintroduce the gas re-circulation policy.
“For the cylinder re-circulation to be successful, the Ghana Cylinder manufacturing company is very crucial; and if these procurement processes are alleged to breaching rules it will not auger well for the country.”
Essiam defies suspension
Frances Essiam, has challenged her suspension by the company’s board, declaring that she is still at post performing regular duties.
She made the comments on the back of a protest by some workers of the company who urged the board to revoke the suspension.
I’ll brief President before close of day
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, says he will update the president on the issue by close of today, Wednesday.
“I am currently working on a report to be given to the appointing authority in the evening before the President who is billed to travel, leaves. I have also spoken to the factions involved. I have spoken to the leaders and there seem to be some form of calm at the moment,” he added.
