Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Yaw Kwakwa has reacted to accusations made against his person by staff of GACL.
Mr Kwakwa putting up a defence, denied allegations made against him by staff of GACL.
Staff members of GACL on Tuesday morning, adorned the premises of the company with red colours demanding for the immediate dismissal of Mr Kwakwa as the company’s MD.
According to the aggrieved staff, Mr Kwakwa since assumption of office 2 years ago has demonstrated gross incompetence, insensitivity to staff and lack understanding of the aviation industry, hence his continuous stay in office will further derail the progress of GACL.
The staff in a petition to the president further accuse Mr Kwakwa of deliberately refusing to implement several interview reports which have laid on his desk for 2 years as well as outsourcing key aspects of the company’s operations at exorbitant costs, notwithstanding the availability of in-house capacity.
But Mr Kwakwa has hit back at the accusations of staff members stating his position on the issue.
Responding to the allegation of not implementing the “several interview reports which have laid on his desk for 2 years,” he noted that a Human Resource Consultancy firm was hired after staff members made complaints about a new organogram to be implemented at GACL.
To find lasting solutions to the ‘problems identified with the new organisational structure’, a steering committee which included some staff members was formed by the consultancy firm.
According to Mr Kwakwa, recommendations were made by the consultancy firm but to the dissatisfaction of staff members as they argued that, the recommendations “were not what they helped define.” But the Consultancy however, indicated that the final decision with regards to the recommendations rested with GACL.
Also addressing the allegation of outsourcing key aspects of the company’s operations at exorbitant costs, Mr Kwakwa posited that outsourcing of some of the company’s operations is not new.
He argues that, unlike previous MD’s of GACL, he outsources the company’s operations to local companies, making particular reference to his decision to outsource maintenance operations of KIA’s Terminal 3 to local representatives of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) who charged $6.3 million per year rather than to a foreign company he identified as MAPA who demanded for $9.4 million per year to provide the same service.
Mr Kwakwa is of the view that, his outsourcing of company operations to local companies, have enraged local agents of foreign contractors to spread falsehood against him.
Also responding to assertions that GACL is facing financial difficulties, Mr Kwakwa noted that the Ministry for Aviation as well as the Presidency have been briefed about the company’s financial woes.
