Tamale, Ghana: The leadership of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Senior Staff Association (SSA) and the VRA Divisional Union of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has vehemently opposed Mr. Jonathan Abdallah Salifu’s purported appointment as the Corporate Communications Manager of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
In a strongly worded statement dated March 3, 2025, the staff groups described Mr. Salifu’s appointment as irregular and a violation of NEDCo’s recruitment protocols.
Mr. Salifu, who serves as the Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), reportedly announced his appointment on a private radio station in Bolgatanga, on February 26, 2025.
The staff unions outlined several reasons for their rejection of the appointment, citing violations of established recruitment procedures and corporate governance principles.
Breach of Recruitment Policies – The unions argue that no managerial position at NEDCo has ever been directly appointed by the government or the presidency, warning that such a move undermines professionalism and sets a dangerous precedent.
Violation of Senior Staff Conditions of Service – The purported appointment contradicts the organization’s conditions of service, which detail the processes for managerial recruitment. Legal and Structural Conflicts – As a wholly owned subsidiary of the VRA, NEDCo operates under the Companies Act and established corporate governance structures. The unions insist that any appointment outside these legal frameworks is unlawful.
Undermining Internal Expertise – The current Corporate Communications Manager has served the company for nearly two decades. The unions view this appointment as a demoralizing disregard for internal career progression and industry experience.
The unions referenced the Supreme Court ruling in Theophilus Donkor v. Attorney General, which clarified the limits of political appointments in public institutions. The case distinguishes between appointments to governing boards (Article 70(1)(d)(iii) of the Constitution) and public service roles (Article 195), affirming that staff positions must be filled through transparent recruitment processes rather than political appointments.
The unions have called on NEDCo’s Acting Managing Director to resist any political pressure to enforce the appointment. They insist that Mr. Salifu, if qualified, should apply through the standard recruitment process whenever a vacancy arises.
Furthermore, the unions have urged the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to intervene and withdraw the purported appointment to prevent industrial unrest. They stressed that while they acknowledge the President’s appointing authority—such as in the recent appointment of the Acting Managing Director—managerial roles within NEDCo should not be subject to political interference.
In their concluding remarks, the unions warned the public against engaging with Mr. Salifu on any NEDCo-related matters, emphasizing that he is neither a staff member nor an employee of the company.
“We, the staff of VRA/NEDCo, will employ all legitimate means to resist this imposition and protect NEDCo from political appointments below the level of the governing board,” the statement read.
The leadership reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the integrity and professionalism of NEDCo, urging the Ghanaian public to support their stance.
Story By: Robicon Mornahson
