Sammi Awuku, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North, has blown an alarm on Emefa Donkor, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod Jewellery.
The Akuapem North raise questions about the dual appointments of Emefa Donkor as the GoldBod Jewellery and Chairperson of the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Sammi Awuku detailed that Section 4(1) of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817) is explicit that the Chairperson of the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority must be drawn from the private sector.
The MP further questioned why multiple strategic appointments should be concentrated in the hands of one individual when many capable professionals remain available to serve.
He argued that the Mahama government promised a 24-hour economy and the 1:3:3 formula—one job, three people, three shifts to create more opportunities for more Ghanaians; however, Ghanaians are witnessing the opposite, with fewer opportunities being shared among more people and more appointments being concentrated among a select few.
Sammi Awuku quizzed whether there are no competent professionals or qualified NDC members within the tourism, hospitality, travel, events, and creative arts sectors who can chair the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority.
In a Facebook post, Sammi Awuku wrote, “Good Evening Ghana
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR PRESIDENT MAHAMA AND THE GHANA TOURISM AUTHORITY
Section 4(1) of the Tourism Act, 2011 (Act 817) is unambiguous: the Chairperson of the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority must come from the private sector.
So, how does Ms Gertrude Emefa Donkor, the Managing Director of GoldBod Jewellery, a state-owned institution, qualify as a private sector representative?
This is not about personalities. It is about compliance with the law.
If a person heads a public institution, exercises public authority and manages public resources on behalf of the state, can that person still be considered a private sector representative under the Tourism Act?
That is the question Ghanaians deserve an answer to.
Is there a shortage of qualified Ghanaians for these important national assignments? Why should multiple strategic appointments be concentrated in the hands of one individual when many capable professionals remain available to serve?
This is particularly difficult to reconcile with the government’s own promises. We were told about a 24-hour economy and the 1:3:3 formula—one job, three people, three shifts to create more opportunities for more Ghanaians.
Yet what we are witnessing appears to suggest the opposite: fewer opportunities being shared among more people and more appointments being concentrated among a select few.
Are there no competent professionals within the tourism, hospitality, travel, events, and creative arts sectors who can chair the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority?
Are there no qualified NDC members still awaiting appointment? If indeed government prefers to appoint from within its own ranks?
Article 70 gives the President the authority to appoint, but that authority must be exercised in accordance with the laws governing our public institutions. The Tourism Act did not simply require a Chairperson; it specifically required one from the private sector.
Government may argue that the appointment to the Ghana Tourism Authority preceded Ms. Donkor’s appointment as Managing Director of GoldBod. But if circumstances have changed and she now heads a state institution, should the legal requirement not still be respected?
Mr. President, we cannot claim to be strengthening institutions while appearing to overlook provisions deliberately enacted to protect and strengthen those same institutions.
The Ministry of Tourism owes Ghanaians a clear explanation.
Until then, this appointment raises more questions than answers”.
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