President John Dramani Mahama has appointed the husband of journalist and Presidential Staffer, Bridget Otoo, one Dr. Evans Ago Tetteh as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Dr. Ago Tetteh until his appointment was a lecturer at the Department of Transport of the Regional Maritime University. He will lead Ghana’s efforts in maritime governance, safety, and security.
His wife, Bridget Otoo was a renowned broadcast journalist and social media activist who was also recently appointed a Presidential Staffer by President John Mahama.
By convention, insiders say that role was usually handled by Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Before the appointment of Dr. Ago Tetteh, H.E. Sabah Zita Benson served as Ghana’s Rep and had recently led Ghana’s delegation at the 34th IMO Assembly in London.
As Ghana’s Representative, sources say Dr. Ago Tetteh will enjoy nearly the same terms and conditions as an Ambassador of Ghana overseas and including accommodation, vehicles, and salaries and other entitlements.
Some Lecturers at the Regional Maritime University who were very active in the NDC and TEIN are reportedly “very angry and disappointed” over the appointment.
They claim, without any evidence, that they know the said Dr. Ago Tetteh had been a popular appendage of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) both at the lecturers caucus level and on social media.
They also claim Bridget Otoo’s Husband had unsuccessfully lobbied the Akufo-Addo administration for a top Director or higher role at the Ghana Maritime Authority.
Many Pro-NDC Lecturers in the University say they have been denied “common board membership” despite making huge contributions towards the party’s coming to power only for Dr. Ago Tetteh to get such a “juicy appointment”.
Dr. Ago Tetteh has since deactivated all his social media handles including X, Facebook and even LinkedIn. It is unclear whether he deactivated them before or after receiving his appointment letter.
Although some have criticized the appointment as “job for the boys” because the previous Akufo-Addo administration allowed the Ambassador in London to handle the role, none of the critics have questioned Dr. Ago Tetteh’s qualifications for the job.
In 2010, the then Head of Ghana’s Mission to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo who doubled as Ghana’s Permanent Rep To the IMO presented his letters of credence to the IMO Secretary General at the Organization’s Headquarters in London. The tradition had continued until now.
Ghana’s current High Commissioner Zita Sabah Benson had assumed the role smoothly but is now expected to hand over to Dr. Ago Tetteh in the coming days as he prepares to submit his letter of credence to the IMO Secretary General.
As a Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization, he will be the official link between the Organization and the Governments of Ghana in respect of all political, diplomatic, administrative and technical questions which may arise in the relations of the Organization with the respective authorities of the Government.
