Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, D&D Fellow in Public Law and Justice at CDD-Ghana, has questioned the host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, Paul Adom Otchere’s right to use the show for his personal scores.

Comparably, the law professor also known as Professor Azar wondered whether scenario could be achieved on CNN, where Wolf Blitzer would use the CNN platform to explain the procurement decisions of a federal agency, of which he was a Board member.

“Globally, journalists accept the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, real or perceived, and ensure that they refrain from engaging in other outside activities that may compromise their integrity or impartiality, or may damage their credibility.

“GOGO will prioritize media independence and will NOT allow any media person to sit on the Board of a State Owned Enterprise, hold any positions of emolument in government, or otherwise be entangled with the government,” he said.

Mr Adom-Otchere has come under severe public attack after a leak document, which he as board chair of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) purportedly procured Christmas inspirations purchased at over GH¢100,000.

Some social commentators and political activists have descended heavily on Paul for acting arbitrary against the law.

Accordingly, the law required that any purchases by state entity from GH¢100,000 must go through a procurement process, which Paul is alleged to have crashed into the Procurement Act.

Dzifa Gunu, a political activist, is suggested on his Facebook page that Paul has abused his position as a board chair to receive price quotations of the Christmas decorations personally.

Mr Gunu says that Paul has breached five provision of the Procurement Act and must stand a trial for it.

Mr Adom-Otchere has also put out a spirited and fierce defence that the purchases were made from two companies, Jandel Limited and Favors and Arts, after an invitation and submission of bids.

The GACL chair in what he called facts stated:

“The beautiful Christmas tree standing at Terminal 3 and 3 others altogether cost GHC 34,000, which was graciously provided by Jandel Limited at a heavy discount. (We thank Jandel Limited)

“The other inspirations were provided by Favors and Arts for a total cost of GH¢84,000, out of which GH¢50,000 was obtained via sponsorship.”

But his claim as part of the facts that all salaries and or bonuses due staff for December have been paid has infuriated the GACL Workers’ Union.

The workers said:

The attention of the Divisional Union has been drawn to a statement circulating on social media attributed to the Board chairman of GACL.

The statement is putting so much pressure on staff leadership hence our decision to respond accordingly.

While staying away from the substantive issue which appears to border on abuse of office, we wish to correct some misrepresentations that were contained in the said release;

Fact 6,

It is never the case that GACL employees were paid bonuses at the end of the year 2021 as was put out there by the Board chairman. In actual fact, the last time bonuses were paid in GACL, was in 2017. Indeed as we speak 2018 bonus which was negotiated for is still in arrears.

Again, for the records, employees December 2021, salaries were paid in January 2022, contrary to what was communicated by the Board chairman. This practice is so alien to GACL and is only gaining prominence in the last few months under the watch of the Board Chair.

Such factually inaccurate statements only ends up given rise to staff agitations especially with the knowledge that the Board has failed to give mandate to management to commence negotiations on staff conditions of service with the Union after proposals prominence in the last two months under the watch of the Board Chair.

Such factually inaccurate statements only ends up given rise to staff agitations especially with the knowledge that the Board has failed to give mandate to management to commence negotiations on staff conditions of service with the Union after proposals were submitted in the middle of November, 2021.

We want to assure all that any attempt to play with the future of the hardworking employees of GACL shall be fiercely resisted.