A Governance Expert Professor Enoch Antwi is wondering about the kind of track record that Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, the son of President Akufo-Addo’s Senior Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has to be appointed as the new Director General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
Prof Antwi said Ghanains deserve to know what went into the decision to settle on him as the SSNIT Boss.
“As we speak, less than 5 percent of Ghanaians are contributing to SSNIT, so there are a lot of inefficiencies there and [Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo] has been the deputy director general, what has he done to merit to be the interim D-G, we should know. You cannot just give positions because you have the power to do so,” he said on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Tuesday, April 9.
Prof Antwi further said that this appointment entrenches the family and friends government that President Akufo-Addo has been accused of running.
He said “It raises a lot of eyebrows because there are many people who qualify to be the DG of SSNIT, why the son of the senior minister Honorable Osafo-Marfo’s son.
“Meanwhile there are other people who really qualify to do that. We have been talking about friends and family governance and nepotism where many people who do not know other people in government or they don’t have relatives who can really push them into these positions, so if you do that, in governance it means your biases are showing.”
President Akufo-Addo had sacked the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang with effect from Monday, April 15, 2024.
He has consequently asked the SSNIT boss to hand over to one of his deputies, Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo.
This is contained in a letter dated April 8, 2024, signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante and addressed to Dr Ofori-Tenkorang.
“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 15th 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.
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