The continued stay in office of Madam Freda Maame Bartels Mensah, the Senior Manager, Contracts & Employment of the Ghana Gas Company Limited (GhanaGas), is leading to loud whispers within the corridors of the company.
Madam Bartels Mensah was officially supposed to retire in early April, 2024, but managed to wheedle her way to an additional one year contract in an application dated 20th January, 2024.
This application was approved on which was approved on 20th February, 2024.
Yet, more than one year after all plausible deadlines to vacating her post has come and gone, Bartels Mensah is still at post.
The second oddity with regard to this development is that the Mahama Administration, soon after coming into office, warned all departments, ministries, agencies and corporations controlled by the government not to extend the tenure of contract workers.
Yet, Madam Bartels Mensah remains in office in the company into which the government and people of Ghana has poured hundreds of millions of dollars.
The interesting thing, however, is that the position the lady currently occupies is highly sensitive, and her precarious nature makes her vulnerable.
Her continued stay in office is also contrary to all the public positioning of current Energy Minister John Jinapor, who is often to be heard expounding on waste and unprincipled conduct leading or likely to lead to waste.
In her application letter dated in January, 2024, Madam Bartels Mensah wrote;
“TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
GHANA NATIONAL GAS LIMITED COMPANY
AIRPORT – WEST, ACCRA.
Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR ONE (1) YEAR CONTRACT EMPLOYMENT
I, hereby, kindly requests for a one (1) year Contract employment with the Procurement Department of this Company from 2nd April 2024 – 31st March 2025, fi granted.
Being a key Management member of this Company during its formative period over twelve (12) years ago has been insightful, full of varied experiences, and 1am most grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the Company.
My tenure of office ends on 31st March 2024 but I believe I still can play a significant role in the work of the Department with the experience acquired and training received, especially in the execution of highly technical Projects like the Construction of Train I Project, Takoradi – Tema (TT) Pipeline Project, Iso- Pentane Project, and the annual Shutdown Maintenance Programmes.
Thank you for the opportunity provided me to work as the first Head of the Procurement Department, the lessons and knowledge acquired on the gas industry during the period, your kind consideration to offer me one (1) year contract employment, and l look forward to a favourable response to this request.
Sincerely,
SIGNED
FREDA MAAME BARTELS MENSAH
SNR. MANAGER, CONTRACT &PROCUREMENT”
(More anon).
