Workers at Ghana Water reject the new deputy MD

The Senior and Junior Staff Union of the Ghana Water Company Ltd. (GWCL) is outraged and has filed a suit to stop Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah from being appointed as the water distribution company's Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration (DMD, F&A).

He is allegedly unqualified for the position. Red flags have been raised and tension has been raised at the company's Accra headquarters as a result of news of his arrival.

The workers have petitioned the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah Dapaa, as well as the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare, against the appointment of Mr. Nuamah, a 49-year-old who is reportedly a banker and is seen as an outsider to the operations of the GWCL. They claim they view his appointment with "shock and great apprehension"

The National Chairman of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) of TUC-Ghana, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GWCL, the Workers Representative of the GWCL, the Director General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), and the Managing Director of the GWCL are also present. However, according to The Herald, Jubilee House, the Presidency, is pushing for the appointment.

The petition, which is signed by the General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers' Union of TUC, Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, and is in the names of the National Secretariat of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) of TUC-Ghana and the National Division Executives Senior Staff and Junior Staff Union of the GWCL, asks the two women to take action.

Mr. Nuamah, better known by his stage handle "CNN," is claimed to be a senior member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who ran unsuccessfully for National Treasurer in the national executive election. Someone inside Jubilee House is consequently considering this position to be a form of remuneration for him.

It's interesting to note that GWCL employs a Mr. Abbey who is reputed to have 20 years of professional expertise and been obedient. He has reportedly been acting for a while, and the board and management have both reportedly been pleased with his work.

The Ghana Water employees claim that among other credentials and experience, the Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration post calls for a person who is a certified Chartered Accountant and a member of an approved institute of Chartered Accountants. On the other hand, "the information we have gathered indicates that Mr. Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah is not a chartered Accountant and is therefore not qualified to be appointed as a Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration for GWCL," according to the statement.

Additionally, even the Chief Manager for Finance post at GWCL stipulates that the chosen candidate must be a chartered accountant who is a member of a reputable professional association of chartered accountants. Therefore, it would be strange and absurd to assign GWCL a non-chartered accountant to oversee the work of employees who are competent chartered accountants. Within the Company, this will result in unnecessary conflict and confusion.

Thirdly, "the corporation is experiencing a severe financial situation, as indicated by the board and management. This is demonstrated by the recent 15% compensation increase that employees received, which had little impact on the company's level of tension or worry. Therefore, it would not be wise for the Company to select a Deputy Managing Director from outside at this time. This company's financial situation should guide the careful and wise use of its limited resources.

Additionally, the employees argued that "considering that there are equally capable and qualified persons within the Company, it is expected that the appointing authority should consider appointing a qualified person from within and not bringing someone from outside who is even less qualified."

They stated that "the Company does not need personnel with almost little knowledge and experience in managing utilities at the highest level hierarchy of the Company at a time when there are increasing arrears for utility firms, which have been made worse by the current economic circumstances. Even a qualified person will take a long time to master the complex area before their usefulness is felt.

In light of these, Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, the general secretary of the TUC's PUWU, demanded that the ministers of sanitation and water resources step in to make sure that the nomination of Mr. Nuamah as deputy managing director, finance and administration is withdrawn and that further action should not be taken to result in the appointment of an unqualified person to a sensitive and critical position.

"It is important to note that GWCL is working to convert the Company into an effective utility entity, and we anticipate the shareholder and appointing authority to support such measures and not create circumstances that will adversely affect the Company's progress."