Telenor Management Partners AS, the new overlords at Ghana Telecom have pressed the panic button for senior staff of Ghana Telecom (GT) by sending the Ghanaian Financial Director of the nation’s leading telecommunications company, home.
A letter signed by Oystein Bjorge, the new Norwegian Managing Director of the company ordered Kwaku Awuah Boateng, Chief Financial Officer of several years standing and member of the three-man Interim Management Committee, that took charge of GT when Telecom Malaysia (TM) were sent packing, to take his accumulated leave with a proviso that he should take along all personal items in his office.
In any society, the Telenor order amounts to termination of his appointment. But Bjorge tried to play down the effect by telling Public Agenda that the Ghanaian Director has only been asked to take his accumulated leave.
He added ominously that the contract under which Telenor assumed control of Ghana Telecom specify that the Director of Finance be a Norwegian. “The contract is clear. Telenor has control over the finances of the company. We have the right to appoint the Director of Finance.
He said Boateng was asked to take his accumulated leave. But since another person would perform his functions, it was only natural to ask him to relieve the office of all personal items. When the Public Agenda pointed out that the tone of the letter amounted to termination of appointment, the Norwegian Managing Director said Boateng could no more serve at the Finance Department since the contractual agreement specified that Telenor would take charge of the Finance Director’s job. “He is a very senior person, so we intend to find a job commensurate with his status when he resumes.”
He agreed with the paper that the tone of the letter could be misconstrued to mean that the services of Boateng was no longer required and promised to withdraw the letter and substitute it with another spelling out the new role for the former Finance Director. But two weeks after giving the promise, Oystein Bjorge has still not obliged.
The Public Agenda has learnt that the deal handed over to Boateng, has made the senior personnel of GT edgy.

“If a member of the IMC who successfully steered the affairs of the company when the Malaysians were sent away could be treated so shabbily, who is safe at GT,” a senior officer queried.

Under Article 4.1.3, dealing with Appointment and Duties of TMP (Telenor Management Partners), “TMP shall, in consultation with GOG (Government of Ghana) nominate the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who the GOG shall procure to be appointed the Managing Director, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for GT and the GOG shall ensure that such nominated personnel are validly appointed without delay by the relevant corporate body.”
Top legal brains and financial experts that the paper consulted to evaluate this clause have slammed it as a sell-out. “How can we entrust both the decision-making process and financial management of a key company like Telecom to foreigners without any supervision at all.
The clause is tantamount to locking your family including your wife in your house and handing over the keys to a stranger because you think he lives in a better environment,” a former financial adviser to government said.
A legal expert with close ties to the government advised Boateng to seek redress in court. “Boateng has to challenge the legality of the order in court. If you are unable to give money to your in-law, you don’t rob her,” the lawyer said, quoting a popular Akan adage.
Meanwhile, Telenor officials are claiming that since they took over about a month ago, they have succeeded in plugging a loophole that enables internet operators fleece GT of nearly $2m a month.