Paul Asare Ansah, Acting Director General of GPHA
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Paul Asare Ansah as the acting Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
Mr Ansah, who was the director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing of GPHA, would take over from Richard Y. Anamoo, the former Director-General, who was relieved of his post by the President on January 23, 2017.
He is expected to assume office in an acting capacity until his confirmation by a new Board of Directors.
Although the communication to Mr. Anamoo relieving of his duties did not assign reasons, many believed recent allegations of corruption made some workers of the port authority could have played a role in his dismissal.
Initial reports suggested the President was likely to appoint Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as the director-general.
A communication dated February 22, 2016 from the presidency and signed by the President indicated that “Pursuant to Section 8(2) of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority Act, 1986 (PNDCL 160), I hereby appoint you to act as the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing board of the Authority, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission. I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment.”
Mr. Ansah holds a Commonwealth Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST).
He also holds a UNCTAD Post Graduate Diploma in Port Management, Dublin, Ireland, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Port Management, JICA Institute, Yokohama, Japan.
In 1997, he graduated from the Galilee Collage, Israel with Post Graduate Diploma in Port Administration in addition to a Post Graduate Degree in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana.
He worked as Management Consultant on Public Private Partnership for Nigeria Port Authority from 2013-2015.
He was member of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, 2014-2016, Marketing & Public Relations Manager and Chairman of the Strategic Management Team, Port of Tema, 2013-2015.
The new acting Director General helped established positive corporate image for GPHA locally and internationally which helped the Authority to win several awards.
It was adjudged the ‘Public Sector PR Organization of the Year-2015’ by the Institute of Public Relations, Ghana.
Mr. Ansah contested the NPP parliamentary primaries in Asuogyaman Constituency in 2007, 2011 and 2015 but was not successful.
He has served the party at various levels in the Eastern Region since 1992.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema