No permanent staff terminated – GEA clarifies memo on expired project contracts

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The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has dismissed media reports suggesting that its Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Ansei, has sacked staff following the circulation of an internal memorandum dated 3rd December 2025. The Agency says such claims are “entirely inaccurate” and urged the public to disregard them.

In a rejoinder issued on Monday, December 8, the Agency stressed that “no staff has been sacked, and the circulating interpretation of the memo is entirely inaccurate.” Management explained that the memo in question has been misrepresented and does not relate to the dismissal of any permanent employee of the Agency.

According to GEA, “the internal memo issued by Management of GEA has been inaccurately portrayed in some media reports.” The statement clarified that the individuals referenced were not mainstream GEA staff, but District Coordinators engaged under a time-bound project, with clearly defined contract terms.

The Agency explained that the coordinators were contract staff supporting a specific project and were never recruited into GEA’s permanent workforce. Their contracts, which were renewable annually, officially expired on 31st August 2025.

However, management offered a temporary extension to ensure work continuity. “Their engagement was not permanent, nor were they hired under the mainstream GEA staffing structure… These contract staff had annual renewable service tenures that officially ended on 31st August 2025. However, in good faith and to ensure continuity of work, Management granted an additional two-month extension, which ended on 31st October 2025.”

GEA emphasised that contract renewals are not guaranteed and depend on several factors, saying “renewal is not automatic. Contract renewal is subject to performance, attendance, funding availability, project needs, and other Management considerations.”

The Agency clarified that the memo did not terminate any contracts but simply directed individuals whose contractual periods had already expired, and who had not yet completed renewal processes, to stop reporting to work until those processes are completed.

“The internal memo that has been misconstrued merely directed that individuals whose contracts have expired and who are yet to complete renewal processes should cease reporting to work until those processes are completed.”

Management added that this instruction also applied to National Service Personnel who have completed their mandatory service period and cannot continue reporting to work without new authorisation.

The statement noted that the directive was purely administrative and standard in the public sector. “This administrative instruction is standard practice to prevent irregularities, safeguard the integrity of the Agency’s operations, and ensure proper accountability, especially regarding staff presence, assignments, and the handling of the Agency’s property.”

The Agency firmly rejected claims that its permanent or mainstream staff had been affected. “We wish to reiterate that no permanent or mainstream GEA staff have been dismissed. The memo did not, and was never intended to, affect career staff of the Agency.”

GEA therefore urged the media to exercise due diligence before publishing claims relating to its operations. “The narrative circulating in sections of the media is, therefore, misleading and should be disregarded.”

The Agency reaffirmed its commitment to fair administrative processes, saying it “remains committed to due process, transparency, and fair treatment of all staff, including project-based contract staff and national service personnel whose tenure has legally ended.”

GEA concluded by encouraging journalists and the public to seek clarification when in doubt to avoid misinterpretation of internal communications.