Leadership expert, Professor Enoch Opoku Antwi, is demanding the track record of Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, that has warranted his promotion to the Director-General position of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
Prof. Antwi, who suspects nepotism in the appointment says there are many technocrats at SSNIT and other deputy directors who qualify to occupy that position, the reason the appointment of Osafo-Maafo’s son “raises a lot of eyebrows.”
He laments the family and friends attitude in Ghana where people who do not have relatives that can call the shots do not get appointment to higher offices.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight Tuesday, April 09, 2024, Prof. Opoku Antwi demanded the President to tell Ghanaians the track record of Osafo-Maafo’s son that makes him the best person to occupy the position he has been given.
“…this guy has been the Deputy Director-General at SSNIT, what has he done that he merits to be the interim Director-General, we should know. You can’t just give positions and because you have the power to do so, you’re saying the citizens who pay tax, and you’re all living by the taxpayers’ money, you cannot tell us why the person is being fired. And there are other people who qualify, not only Osafo-Maafo’s son. There are other people who are also Deputy Directors and some people who are also technocrats serving at SSNIT for long time who also qualify to be the Director-General,” he lamented.
He continued that “we should stop this thing of bringing my son, bringing my daughter, what about those of us who don’t have fathers and our mothers in political positions who can call the shots? This is not how democracy works.”
His comments follow the termination of the appointment of Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, who has been instructed to hand over his duties by Monday, April 15, 2024, to Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, son of former Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, who is currently a Senior Advisor to the President.
Prof. Antwi has says the appointment of Kofi Osafo-Maafo as Director General of SSNIT is the height of nepotism.
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“It raises a lot of eyebrows because there are many people who qualify to be Director General of SSNIT. Why the son of the former Senior Minister? We’ve been talking about friends and family governance and nepotism where many people who don’t know other people in government or don’t have relatives who can put them to such positions so if you do that in governance it means that your biases is showing because there are many other people who qualify for this position,” he told Alfred Ocansey on TV3.
The Tuesday, April 08, 2024 letter that contained Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang’s dismissal was signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante.
“Reference is made to your appointment letter dated 1st July, 2019, issued by the Public Services Commission. In accordance with paragraph 8 of the said appointment letter, I regret to inform you that the President has terminated your appointment effective l5th April, 2024 with three (3) months salary in lieu of notice.
“You are directed to hand over your office to Mr. Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo and proceed to collect any terminal benefits you may be entitled to,” portions of the letter read.
It continued that, “To ensure a smooth transition, kindly hand over and cease to act as the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) no later than close of business on Monday, 15th April, 2024.”
“The President thanks you for your service to the nation and extends his best wishes” the letter concluded.
