Peter Mac Manu
Peter Mac Manu has described all the allegations leveled against him by workers of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) as childish and bogus.
Mr Mac Manu, who is the GPHA board chairman, was on Thursday accused by both the senior and the junior staff unions of engaging in a conflict of interest situation at the company.
The workers claimed that Mr Mac Manu has seven companies – five stevedoring and two cleaning – operating at the port. And has been awarding ticketing contracts to his wife’s company.
However, the GPHA board chairman has explained that he had been in the travel business for over 35 years as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited agent and that there was no reason for the workers to state that he had overpriced tickets to GPHA for over 100 per cent.
“From 2005 to 2008 my agent was selling tickets to GPHA but the contract was terminated when the NDC came to power in 2009,” he indicated.
According to Mr Mac Manu, the current board was made aware of his wife’s travel business in order not to conflict with his role as chairman.
“I have all invoices issued to GPHA and will make them public so that we can compare. We pre-finance the tickets and add commission (ranging from 5 to 10 per cent) to it and that is the standard practice for IATA accredited agents,” he underscored.
He stressed that even before tickets are sold, pro-forma invoices are raised for prospective buyers to agree and confirm acceptance.
“The GPHA board under me has never dealt with any procurement; and no procurement issues have ever been brought before the board”.
“When I asked the Director General (DG) how come the board is not privy to procurements, his simple answer to me was that procurement is not a board issue but an entity tender committee matter.
“So then from where did I award contracts to my sons and cronies and procured tug boats. These are pure lies,” Mr Mac Manu stressed.
Meridian Port Service (MPS)
On the allegation that the board chairman had imposed himself on Meridian Port Service (MPS), Mr Peter Mac Manu explained that GPHA has 30 per cent stakes in the company.
“And before Mac Manu’s board came in, the shares had been diluted to 15 per cent by MPS after the GPHA representative on the MPS had signed a resolution to that effect.
“So the board decided that the DG and I should represent GPHA on MPS; so where is the imposition?” he quizzed.
“And I have even managed to get the 30 per cent dilution restored to GPHA,” he emphasized.
LNG
On the issue of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Mr Mac Manu noted that the board whipped management to expedite the negotiation.
“We need jobs and dividends and Ghanaians need cheap electricity which will come from the LNG supply to electricity producers and any delays could be costly,” he explained.
“So what is wrong with the board asking management to speed up the negotiation process?” he asked.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi