Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has ordered the National Sports Authority (NSA) to cancel the appointments of 17 staff members who were recruited without following the right process.
The directive was given to NSA Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah at a meeting on Monday, 23 February. The meeting included the Minister, the NSA Board and management, after concerns were raised about how the staff were recruited.
It emerged that the appointments were made without approval from the Public Services Commission and the Ministry of Finance, which are both required under public service rules.
Earlier, the NSA Board had already asked Mr Ankrah to withdraw the appointments. The Board noted that some of the positions filled, including Chief Operations Officer, are not part of the NSA’s approved structure. By law, vacant positions must be advertised and applicants properly vetted before they can be paid with public funds.
Reports say the issue led to tension between the Board and management. There were also questions about how the affected staff were being paid, as their salaries were said not to have gone through the NSA’s official accounts.
The Minister’s decision has now brought the matter to a close, with the Director General expected to carry out the order. The NSA currently has about 121 staff at its headquarters, as changes and reforms continue at the Authority.
By: Pascal Amoah
