Dr. Mark Ankrah MD, SHC
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday, April 3, 2014
The Managing Director of State Housing Company (SHC)
Dr. Mark Ankrah is in hot waters following his supervision of the sale of the
corporation’s guest house to a member of the Board of Directors.
The move has incensed the Minister of Water
Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Collins Dauda who ordered the MD to
reverse the decision within one week.
The state facility located at 4th Ridge
Cape Coast in the Central Region is believed to have been sold to a member of
the board called Thomas Senyo at GH¢40,000.00.
Its unclear if the said board member will continue
to sit on the SHC board due to the conflict of interest situation.
The one week ultimatum given by the minister ends
today.
The minister directed Dr. Ankrah to “show evidence
within one week that the transaction has been aborted.”
Later a statement from the ministry signed by the
Chief Director Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, said the transaction was unacceptable.
“The minister is unable to agree with the MD that
the sale of the guest house in question to the Member of the Board is
justified,” the statement held, adding “Even though Mr. Dauda acknowledges that
the SHC is a limited liability company governed by the Companies Code.”
The statement said government is a 100 per cent shareholder
and must therefore protect the public interest in the company’s dealings.
It was a letter addressed to Mr. Senyo on
January 17, 2014 signed by Isaac Nai General Manager – Finance and
Administration and copied to the Board Chairman, Managing Director, Chief
Internal Auditor, Estates Dapartment and Operations Manager (Western Zone)
respectively that triggered the agitation, particularly from the union.
The letter to Mr. Senya titled “Offer of Guest
House, Cape Coast”, said “reference your request to acquire the Old State
Housing Guest House at Cape Coast and the relevant board approval obtained.”
It said “management wish to offer you the above
property located at 4th Ridge, Cape Coast for consideration of
GH¢40,000.00. You are requested to pay 50 percent of the asking price within
one month and the full payment within three months. You will be required to pay
a processing of GH¢500.00 towards the participation of the lease document.”
Later, Daily Guide obtained copy of a letter dated
January 27, 2014 to the Managing Director signed by J.K. Arthur on behalf of
the SHC unionized workers and copied to the Board Chairman, General Manager of
SHC, General Secretary PUWU among others, expressing their displeasure at the
deal.
In the said letter they said “the guest house is
strategically positioned and it is very viable in respect of revenue generation
for the zone.’
They said the guest house had in the past generated
much funds for the zone and needed renovation and not outright sale to a member
of the SHC board of director.
“The sale is an attempt by management to deprive
workers of the company their right to accommodation whilst on official duty at
Cape Coast.”
BAD FAITH
They further
said that the sale violates Article 6.14 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
and it will in future cost the company much in the hiring of hotels for staff
who go to Cape Coast on official duties.
“I am further directed to inform management that all
the unionized workers are ready to buy the guest house at a higher prize for
commercial use.”
They wanted to find out from management who had done
the valuation and why the union was not even consulted before the sale.
They said the sale was in ‘bad faith’ and could be
likened to the sale of state lands and property to government officials and
ministers of state at the expense of the nation.
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