Ghana Water Employees Reject the New Deputy Managing Director

The Senior and Junior Staff Union of the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) has filed a petition opposing Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah's nomination as Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration (DMD, F&A) for the water distribution company.

He is reportedly unqualified for the position. The company's Accra headquarters has raised red flags in response to the news of his arrival, which has caused tension.

Mr. Nuamah, 49, a reputed banker, is viewed as an outsider to the operations of the GWCL, and according to the workers, they view his appointment with "shock and great apprehension" and have petitioned the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah Dapaa, and the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare, against his nomination.

In addition, the Director General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GWCL, the Managing Director of the GWCL, the workers representative of the GWCL, and the National Chairman of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) of the Trades Union Congress of Ghana (TUC-Ghana). According to The Herald, however, the appointment is being delayed by the Presidency at Jubilee House.

The petition is in the name 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. It is signed by Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, the General Secretary of the Public Utility Workers' Union of TUC.

Mr. Nuamah, nicknamed "CNN," is said to be a prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who ran unsuccessfully for National Treasurer in a national executive election. Consequently, someone within Jubilee House views this appointment as a form of compensation for him.

Intriguingly, there is a Mr. Abbey at GWCL who is said to have 20 years of work experience and to have been diligent. According to reports, he has been acting for some time, and both management and the board are pleased with his performance.

According to Ghana Water employees, the position of Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration requires a certified Chartered Accountant who is a member of an accredited institute of Chartered Accountants. However, "the information we have gathered indicates that Mr. Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah is not a chartered accountant and is therefore ineligible for the position of Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration for GWCL."

"In addition, the position of Chief Manager for Finance at GWCL requires the candidate to be a chartered accountant who is a member of a recognized professional body of chartered accountants. It would therefore be illogical and absurd for GWCL to assign a non-chartered accountant to supervise the work of qualified chartered accountant subordinates. This will result in unnecessary tension and disorder within the Company".

Thirdly, "the board and management had indicated that the company's financial situation was precarious. This is evidenced by the fact that the recent 15% compensation increase for employees has not caused a great deal of tension and anxiety within the company. Therefore, it is not prudent to appoint an external Deputy Managing Director for the company at this juncture. This financial position of the Company should inform the company's prudent and judicious use of its limited resources.

Moreover, the workers argued that "considering that there are equally capable and qualified individuals within the company, the appointing authority should consider appointing a qualified individual from within rather than bringing in an unqualified individual from the outside."

They insisted that "at a time of escalating arrears for utility companies, which has been exacerbated by the current economic difficulties, the Company does not need individuals with almost no knowledge and experience in managing utilities at the top level of the Company's hierarchy." It will take this individual a considerable amount of time to understand the complexities of the industry before even a qualified person's effectiveness can be felt.

In light of these facts, Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, the General Secretary of the PUWU of TUC, demanded that the Ministers of the Sanitation and Water Resources intervene to ensure that the nomination of Mr. Nuamah as Deputy Managing Director, Finance and Administration is withdrawn and that further action does not lead to the appointment of an unqualified individual to a sensitive and critical position.

"It is essential to note that GWCL is currently working to transform the company into an efficient utility entity, and we expect the shareholder and appointing authority to support these measures and not create circumstances that will hinder the company's progress."