General News of Sunday, 6 February 2011

Source: Daily Democrat

Kennedy Agyepong Sacks Workers By Radio Announcement

Kennedy Ohene Agyepong, one of Ghana’s most vituperative and bragging MPs did a very unusual thing last Friday when he announced the dismissal of two of his workers at Oman FM on air. Throwing tantrums and effusions, he said, “I have dismissed two workers and no one, not even my mother can force me to take them: I formed the company with my own money.”

Mr. Agyepong made his entry onto the political scene in 1997 and gained notoriety when he caused a stir at the Kotoka International Airport by asking the security man on duty, “my friend do you know me?” This was when the security guard had asked the then MP-elect to use the right passage, but he would not obey a single instruction and bulldozed his way though per his own power.

Ever since he joined the political fray on the ticket of the NPP, he has been dragging the party’s name into some kind of disrepute per his utterances, conduct and relations with the party hierarchy and the general public.

Last Friday, those writers who used to be his admirers as a result of his generosity, heard his voice discussing a new concept he wanted to introduce unto the chairman business specter. In the course of the programme hosted by Fiifi Boafo, he reared off the main line of discussion and descended heavily on his own workers for what he termed gross disrespect, lateness, apathy and laziness. “We do a 24-hours business so wherein lies “I report for duty at 8am or 9am? I got to this place at 7am and most workers were not at post, why?” I”I have dismissed two of them at the reception because people come here very often so you need to report on time.

I can assure that even my mother cannot force me to take them back because it’s my own business,” he stated. But the question is do you dismiss workers by word of mouth on air?

On hearing this utterance, the Democrat newspaper dashed in there to find out from the CEO his motivation for dismissing workers at random without recourse to the country’s laws - but he brushed them aside and remarked; my friend don’t disturb me this morning’, apparently still barking in fury and indignation.

A short interview with a few of his workers showed that most of them were living in fear and panic of the swash bucking on ticks of their CEO. Some of them even feared to talk to me for possible reprisal. Much as I may agree with Ken to protect and promote his business, too much authority and threats may weigh against the fortunes of the company in future. I therefore plead with the CEO to tone down on his hard stance which may not provide the needed returns.