The leadership of the Volta River Authority-Northern Electricity Distribution Company (VRA-NEDCo) Staff Groups has strongly rejected the alleged appointment of Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as Corporate Communications Manager of NEDCo.
In a press statement issued on Monday, March 3, 2025, the staff described the purported appointment as irregular, illegal, and a violation of NEDCo’s corporate governance principles.
They maintained that no official appointment had been made and urged the government to refrain from political interference in the company’s affairs.
According to the staff, Mr. Salifu himself announced the appointment on Dreamz FM, a Bolgatanga-based radio station, on February 26, 2025, despite it contradicting NEDCo’s established recruitment policies.
They further noted that the current Corporate Communications Manager has served for 20 years, earning the position through merit.
They argued that bypassing him with a politically appointed individual would undermine professionalism and demoralize staff.
Citing the Supreme Court case Theophilus Donkor v. The Attorney General, the statement clarified that presidential appointments do not extend to public service positions under Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution.
They also emphasized that NEDCo, as a limited liability company wholly owned by VRA, is not classified as a public service entity under Article 190 and, therefore, must follow the Companies Act and its internal procedures for managerial appointments.
“Never in NEDCo’s history has a managerial position been filled directly by the government or the Office of the President. This sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the professional standards that have been the bedrock of our organization,” the statement read.
The staff reiterated that while the political class has the authority to make certain appointments, such powers must be exercised within legal limits to preserve the integrity of the institution.
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