Amidst recent rumors of staff agitation and purported internal unrest at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Senior Staff Association (SSA) has stepped forward to dispel these claims. In addition to their public statement released a few weeks ago, in which the SSA debunked false rumors that there is no ongoing staff agitation within the corporation; they again today released an internal statement to staff.
Contrary to sensationalized reports, GNPC CEO, Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah, has been diligently steering the corporation towards progress. Recent false allegations suggesting the CEO’s involvement in promoting individuals to senior positions without merit have been debunked by the SSA. In fact, in today’s statement, even though the corporation’s conditions of service gave the power to the CEO to appoint any individual to a position up to Deputy Manager, he rather set up a diverse promotion committee to promote based on merit and interviews. The CEO has been transparently opening up positions to be filled through fair interview processes, ensuring that only the most qualified candidates are selected to drive the corporation forward.
Moreover, the purported discord within GNPC has been attributed to a minority of embittered staff members who oppose the progressive policies implemented by the CEO. These policies, aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity, have faced resistance from a fraction of employees. For instance, in the first quarter of 2023, less than 20% of the staff adhered to the required 8-hour work schedule. In response, the CEO instituted a policy linking end of year bonuses to attendance, a move designed to incentivize punctuality and dedication. Another policy that has been successful among international oil companies is cross-functional rotations which break down silos and boost productivity.
It has come to light that a handful of the idle displeased employees are attempting to garner support from certain board members in a bid to sow confusion within the corporation to oust the CEO. Nevertheless, even though the main issues have been swiftly addressed by the executive leadership of GNPC, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining a conducive work environment focused on meritocracy and professionalism; the issue of fake news and baseless rumors is a concern for the SSA leadership. They believe some of the leaks are just targeted attacks at discrediting the GNPC Corporation by faceless individuals, as was conveyed in their last statement.
In light of these developments, it is evident that all is calm at GNPC, with the hardworking Management at the helm, steering the corporation towards greater success. All stakeholders are urged to remain focused on the corporation’s mission and to disregard any baseless rumors aimed at destabilizing GNPC’s operations.
