New CEO accuses Dr. K. K. Sarpong of Stealing US$ 12 million from GNPC

The new Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is alleging that his predecessor, Dr. K.K Sarpong misappropriated a whopping US$ 12 million of the Corporation’s money.

A petition from “Concerned Staff” of the GNPC discredits his claim, citing him for incompetence and a limited understanding of corporate governance.

According to the staff, Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah was hypocritically howling over K. K. Sarpong’s US$ 12 million when he (Danquah) himself, has not made a good job of accounting for some US$100 million.

“…during the same onboarding week, the financial accounts he presented to staff all turned out to be false. For instance, while he falsely accused his predecessor to have misappropriated the Corporation’s Fund of about 12 million USD, he smartly concealed the 100 million USD funds the Corporation had received from Jubilee Holding Lifting in his financial report,” the petition from the concerned staff to GNPC’s Board Chairman read.

And Opku Ahweeneh’s accusation of K.K. Sarpong as the purloiner of US$ 12 million is listed by the Concerned GNPC staff as one of many examples of his troublesome conduct in the very few months that the man has been Ag. CEO.

Among others he is accused of improper appointments, fighting with technocrats, using transfers to victimize and silence staff and blowing Ghc200,000 on a training program that never happened.

It would be recalled that Mr. Danquah was appointed Acting CEO in April 2022 after Dr. K.K. Sarpong retired.

It would also be recalled that the circumstances under which he was appointed rather controversially linked to his relations with the Executive Secretary to President Akufo-Addo, Nana Asante Bediatuo.

Critics surmise that the appointment of the new GNPC helmsman was a power move by Asante Bediatuo, to put the state oil corporation directly under his thumb.

Opoku Ahweeneeh is seen as nothing but the puppet of Bediatuo.

And the power of the protection from the President’s Secretary is said to be something that the man is reportedly flexing at the GNPC with his mean streak on display.

He is said to have openly said he will not work with laid down procedures approved by the Board of the Corporation.

“In just a few weeks after assuming office, the Ag. CEO appointed four special aides, who have higher responsibilities and authority than his General Managers and deputies have in GNPC… These aides now attend ExCom meetings and Entity Tender Committee meetings, which are quite unfortunate. The aides have also been empowered to micro-manage some departments. This is not surprising because he is usually heard saying that he does not believe and will not adhere to the structure and policies of the Corporation approved by the Board,” the Concerned workers wrote.

In the three months that he has been acting CEO, Opoku Ahweneeh is said to have transferred 27 staff already, placing many square pegs in round holes.

Source: whatsupnewsghana