Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) faces allegations of recruiting over 3,000 contract staff without proper financial clearance. Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh made these claims. He also stated that newly recruited workers have seen their salaries slashed drastically.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP sent an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday. He described the situation at the EPA as a growing institutional crisis. This crisis could affect environmental governance and investor confidence in Ghana. Only about 500 positions received financial clearance later, leaving thousands of contract staff in limbo.
This situation adds to concerns about financial discipline in state institutions. Public financial management procedures require prior financial clearance for recruitments. Failing to follow these rules can lead to financial strain and operational issues. The alleged irregular recruitments happened when the EPA did not have a properly constituted Governing Board. This raises questions about oversight and accountability.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh stated in his letter, “Over 3,000 persons were reportedly recruited as contract staff at a time when the Authority did not yet have a properly constituted Governing Board.” He stressed that these recruitments occurred without financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance. This goes against established public financial management procedures. He also alleged that some recruits received higher salaries than existing senior staff. Other recruits were placed in senior positions without following proper public service recruitment guidelines.
The current situation has created significant financial stress and lowered staff morale. Many affected workers resigned from previous secure jobs, such as teaching positions. They accepted offers from the EPA based on initial salary promises. These promised salaries ranged from GHS 8,000 to GHS 14,000 per month. However, their pay has been cut to between GHS 3,000 and GHS 4,000. This represents a reduction of nearly 70%. These individuals are now stuck, earning less than junior clerks, despite being overqualified for alternative jobs. Many cannot return to their previous roles because those positions are filled. Annoh-Dompreh warned that this could severely damage trust in public sector employment contracts. He urged President Mahama to order an immediate administrative and financial review. He also called for the restoration of the affected workers’ original salaries.
The implications of these allegations are significant for Ghana’s public sector. Such practices can erode public trust in government institutions. It also highlights potential weaknesses in financial oversight and human resource management across state entities. Market observers will watch how the government addresses these claims. A resolution could reinforce confidence in Ghana's adherence to financial regulations. Failure to act swiftly might deter potential investors and worsen social unrest. The outcome will set a precedent for managing similar issues in other public institutions.