The leadership of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) Staff Groups has strongly rejected the alleged appointment of Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, the Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as the Corporate Communications Manager of NEDCo.
In a press release issued on Monday, March 3, 2025, the staff denounced the appointment as irregular, illegal, and a violation of NEDCo’s corporate governance standards. They clarified that no such official appointment has been made and called on the government to avoid any political interference in the company’s operations.
The staff emphasized that the alleged appointment, which was publicly announced by Mr. Salifu on February 26, 2025, during an interview on Dreamz FM, a Bolgatanga-based radio station, bypasses NEDCo’s established recruitment policies.
Furthermore, the staff noted that the current Corporate Communications Manager, who has dedicated 20 years to the company, has risen through the ranks based on merit. They argued that appointing a politically motivated individual undermines professionalism and demoralizes the workforce.
The statement also referenced the Supreme Court case of Theophilus Donkor vs the Attorney General, which clarified that presidential appointments do not apply to public service roles under Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution.
The staff noted that NEDCo, being a limited liability company is wholly owned by VRA and not a public service entity as defined under Article 190 of the Constitution and should follow the Companies Act and NEDCo’s internal procedures for managerial appointments, rather than allowing political influence.