Staff of the Volta River Authority and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) have vehemently rejected the appointment of Abdallah Jonathan Salifu as Corporate Communications Manager of NEDCo.
In a detailed statement issued by leadership of staff groups at VRA/NEDCo, the workers of the power distribution company argued that the said appointment does not only violent their Senior Staff Conditions of Service and undermine experience and contribution of staff but also is illegal and an affront to the recruitment policies of NEDCo.
“As a limited liability subsidiary of VRA, 100% owned by VRA and registered under the Company’s Act, NEDCo operates under established corporate governance principles. The purported appointment is completely illegal and contrary to the recruitment policies of NEDCo,” they stated.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling, they argued that staff positions within the company are filled through established procedures as and when there is a vacancy and not direct appointment from the Presidency or the ministry.
“Never in NEDCo’s history has a managerial position been filled directly by the Office of the President. This sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the professional standards that have been the bedrock of our organisation. Managerial positions are filled based on established procedures, ensuring fairness and meritocracy.”
Reports of Abdallah Jonathan’s appointment as Corporate Communications Manager of the company emerged last week with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, where he is the Regional Communication Officer of the party congratulating him.
Abdallah confirmed the appointment himself and outlined his plan for NEDCo as Corporate Communications Manager.
But the leadership of VRA/NEDCo’s staff groups said such appointment will set a dangerous precedent and demoralize current staff if it is allowed through.
They noted that the said position is currently occupied by a long-serving officer, who have contributed significantly to the company. Ousting him for a political appointee, they say, undermines his 20-year contribution to the company and could demoralize the company’s workforce.
But even if the position is vacant, they said it must be filled in accordance with the NEDCo’s recruitment policies, which do not allow political appointment to managerial positions.
They are demanding the withdrawal of the appointment, stating they will deploy every legitimate means to resist it if it is not reversed.
“We, the staff of VRA/NEDCo, will employ all legitimate means to resist this imposition and protect NEDCo from political appointments below the level of the governing board. Corporate communications demands expertise, experience, and a deep understanding of the energy sector – it is not a reward for political affiliation.”
