The immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMCL) has explained the reason for her resignation.

Ms Frances Ewurabena Essiam said she took the decision because of interference in her work by the Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh.

According to her, she decided to enter into an agreement with Ghana Gas – a decision she claimed the Energy Minister kicked against.

She alleged that, Dr Opoku-Prempeh told her that another agency has been asked to take over the management of GCMCL.

This development, a peeved madam Essiam maintained, is an affront to the hard work she has put into making the company a viable one.

“I am a very principled person, so I have resigned for him to take over and do what he wants to do,” she stated in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Friday.

Ms. Essiam alleged that the move to take over the management of the company is for the selfish interest of some people at the presidency and the Energy Minister.

“I have worked for the company to be viable, so some people now, for their selfish parochial interests want to take over and chop,” she stated.

However, Communications Specialist at the Energy Ministry, Kofi Abrefa, dismissed the claims made by Ms Essiam that Dr Opoku-Prempeh wanted her out of the position.

Also speaking on Ekosii Sen, he stated that Ms Essiam took offence when the Minister performed his oversight role upon being informed by the former CEO about an agreement she intended to have with Ghana Gas Company.

Mr Abrefa said Dr Opoku-Prempeh only wanted the best for the state and suggested an in-depth investigation before any decision is reached.

"At no point in time did he (the Minister) usurped her power," Mr Abrefa added.

Ms Essiam was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017. She occupied the position till she resigned on February 23, 2023.