Massive Leadership Crisis Hits NCA

Partisan Politics and Naked Cronyism Engulf State Institution

Dossier obtained from the vaults of the National Communications Authority (NCA), shows the institution is going through some difficulties under its American returnee Director-General, Joe Anokye and board chairmanship of one of Ghana’s respected journalist; Kweku Sekyi-Addo.

At the core of the matter, is naked partisan politics and daylight cronyism. Several documents in the custody of The Herald, portray total disregard to corporate governance, with Mr. Anokye, sidelining his three Deputy Director-Generals in the administration of the strategic state institution. This happens whenever Mr. Anokye travels outside Ghana.

Several of the documents, reveal that the NCA boss, is running the institution with a contract staff officer; Abena Asafu-Adjei, the Director—Legal.

Abena Asafu-Adjei, had earlier been moved from the Legal Department to be the Director, Policy, Strategy and Innovation by the previous management and board, but that decision was quickly reversed with the coming into office Akufo-Addo government with the removal of one Rahmata Issahaq –Pelpuo from the legal department.

This paper’s information is that, the wife of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Kwame Asafu-Adjei, was not only offered a two-year contract by the Akufo-Addo government upon her retirement from the NCA in July last year, but has been made to act as Director-General many times in the absence of Mr. Anokye.

Interestingly, Mr. Anokye, is mandated to handover to any of the three Deputy Director-Generals namely; Dr. Isaac Yaw Ani, Deputy Director-General, Managerial Operations, Henry Kanor, Deputy Director-General, Technical Operations and Prince Ofosu Sefah, Deputy Director General in charge of Operations, but he rather prefers to hand over the administration of the office to Mrs. Asafu-Adjei, their subordinate.

What is more bizarre is that, the three Deputy Director-General are instructed by Mr. Anokye to report to the Director, Legal. This happens whenever Mr. Anokye is traveling abroad.

The Herald has counted at least four instances when the NCA boss left Ghana, and handed the running of the institution to head of the legal department.

For instance a Friday, 23 February, 2017 Memo from Joyce G. A. Abbey, Secretary to Mr. Anokye, first communicated to staff that, Mrs. Asafu-Adjei was going to act as the Director General in the absence of the NCA boss. This happened when Mr. Anokye was traveling to participate in a GSMA Ministerial Programme in Barcelona-Spain.

Sensing the anomaly, another memo was issued saying, although Mrs. Asafu-Adjei, was going to act as Director-General, she was going to perform her duties in partnership with the two Deputy Director-Generals.

The Memo from the NCA boss to Mrs. Asafu-Adjei read in parts that “as discussed with you, I shall be away from the office to attend the GSMA Ministerial Programme in Barcelona from 27th February-1st March 2017; I shall be back in the office on Friday, 3rd March, 2017. During my absence, you are kindly requested to act and address the under-listed issues”.

She was asked to supervised a stakeholders meeting- Interconnect Clearing House, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Action Items from Management Meeting held on 13rd and 20th February 2017, Strategic Changes in Management, Staff Performance Bonus etc.

A second Memo dated March 20, 2017, also asked Mrs. Asafu-Adjei to act on behalf of Mr. Anokye, who was going to participate in a Commonwealth Cyber security Forum: 21st -24 March 2017: BT Centre, London, United Kingdom.

It said “As discussed with you, I will be away from the office to attend the Commonwealth Cybersecurity Forum from 21 March, 2017in London, UK. I shall be back in the office on Monday, 27th March 2017”.

She was also tasked to carry out a task when her boss travelled in a letter, saying “The application for Airtel/Tigo merger has been received. NCA has executed its portion of the Non-Disclosure Agreement and forwarded same to Airtel/Tigo for its finalization”.

In a third memo dated May 12, 2017, Mr. Anokye was traveling to Geneva-Switzerland to participate in ITU Council 2017; from May 15-22nd 2017, yet again handed over his duties to the Director Legal, instead of his three deputies.

A fourth memo dated June 5, 2017, announcing Mr. Anokye’s trip to Strasbourg –France, also asked Mrs. Asafu-Adjei to act as the NCA Director General from June 5th to 10th 2017.

It is not clear, whether the NCA board chaired by Kweku Sekyi-Addo and his other colleague Board members namely; Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Bernard Forson, Philip Asare Kwame Ayesu, Susan Barbara Adjorkor Boye Kumapley and Paul Adom –Otchere are in the known of these interesting developments.

More to come!