
Audio By Carbonatix
While battling the Bureau of National Investigations over allegations of financial misappropriations on one hand, the Executive Director of the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission is facing a verbal coup d'etat from workers on another.
Even though Samuel Sarpong is still in office as Executive Secretary, the workers union is demanding a "competent" head to steer affairs at the commission.
"Never again should we have such leadership," chairman of the Workers Union Abubakar Jabaru swore to Joy News, Tuesday, a day when the Director of Public Relations and External Affairs Nana Yaa Jantuah tendered in her resignation.
"We want a competent technical head at PURC..One who respects the workers and the stakeholders, not the one who will be dictating but not collaborating," he said.
"We need a new face who understands the regulatory work," he added.
The vigorous and vehement call for change at the Commission comes at a time when Mr Sarpong is entangled in a web of allegations of financial misappropriations.
On February 21, 2017, Joy News' investigative journalist Kwetey Nartey intercepted documents revealing acts of financial malfeasance at the Commission.
The documents uncovered payments of some GHC400,000 transferred into the personal account of PURC's Executive Secretary, Samuel Sarpong by the Head of Finance.
The money was said to have been used in funding nationwide public meetings on controversial reviews of utility tariffs.
The Executive Secretary however denied any wrong doing adding, every penny paid into his account was accounted for.
It was also revealed that the Commission procured a software at a cost of GHC200,000 but was functional.
A PURC staff who pleaded anonymity said the software given to them was only a demo.
Mr Sarpong has since been at the centre of the investigations by the BNI, detained at some point but released.
Nana Yaa Jantuah who was vehement in her defence of the increases in utility prices was also cited for spending some Ȼ120,000 on 350 hampers for Christmas.
She has tendered in her resignation even though she still is under investigation.
Chairman of the Workers Union at the PURC Abubakar Jabaru confirmed the resignation but wants the Executive Secretary also out.
Latest Stories
-
Tamale water crisis a “major headache”, but government will fix it — Haruna Iddrisu
47 seconds -
Finance Ministry directed SOEs to do business with SIC but order was verbal, says SIC Life MD
2 minutes -
Cabinet to decide on fuel measures amid rising prices – Edudzi Tameklo
4 minutes -
Minority considers petition to Asantehene over cocoa price cuts
6 minutes -
Insurance Brokers join IMANI petition to end political interference in state insurance placements
8 minutes -
Road fatalities surge in 2026 despite intensified safety efforts—NRSA
10 minutes -
Police launch manhunt over gunshots, clashes at Kotoku Onion Market
11 minutes -
IGP’s Special Operations Team gets new leadership
21 minutes -
FoSCeL to hold National World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2026 event at KNUST
21 minutes -
Ghana earns nearly $12bn from petroleum sector since 2011
25 minutes -
Classic ‘I Told You So’ to be remade in 2027 for Ghana at 70
27 minutes -
533 admitted to Ghana Armed Forces College of Nursing and Midwifery
33 minutes -
Manhyia North MP, Akwasi Konadu questions speed of Damang mine tender process
35 minutes -
Accra hosts 24th EBID AGM as Finance Minister calls for bold action
39 minutes -
The Insurance Paradox: Of state capture, greedy monopolies, and the SIC reset
41 minutes