The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has clarified that no staff were dismissed at his own discretion.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Prof. Gyampo explained that the layoffs were carried out solely in compliance with a directive from the Presidency, which instructed all agencies to terminate the employment of persons hired after the December 7 elections.
He recounted receiving a farewell call from one affected staff member while traveling for a UTAG meeting, describing the worker as diligent but noting he had “no power to overturn a directive from above.”
“We received a directive from the Chief of Staff stating that all employees hired after the December 7 elections should be terminated. I remember I was traveling for a meeting with UTAG when one of my staff members called to say goodbye. He is a hard worker, and I wish there was something I could do to help, but it was a directive from above, and we had to comply,” he said.
According to Prof. Gyampo, 13 employees hired before December 7 were retained, while those engaged afterward were affected. Some contract staff who were regularized after the elections were also classified as new hires and therefore fell under the directive.
Prof. Gyampo added that the GSA is currently undergoing restructuring and developing new strategic plans, and will recruit additional staff when necessary and when resources permit.
“Thirteen employees were hired before December 7, and I met them during my time here, so only those hired after December 7 were affected. I was also made aware of some contract staff who, after the elections, were made permanent, but the system still categorized them as new hires.
“We plan to recruit as needed. Currently, we are restructuring our strategic plans, and we definitely require additional manpower. As our resources allow, we will move forward with hiring,” he added.
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