Audio: Sir John reacts to reports about his ‘sack’

Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie has reacted to reports that he has been asked to step down.

According to him, per the rules of engagement governing his appointment, he is supposed to receive letters notifying him of any action to that effect, but no such letter has been issued.

Earlier in January, news went viral that “eight CEO’s of some government institutions have been directed to leave office by March 2019.”

According to media reports, the directive was as a result of the provision in the Public Service Act which enjoins public officers to retire from the public service on attaining the age of sixty (60) and getting a possible extension of five (5) extra years.

It named the affected persons as: Mr Eugene Ofosuhene, 67 years, Controller and Accountant General; Mr Kofi Jumah, 68 years, CEO of Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC); Mr Isaac Osei, 67 years, CEO of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR); Mr Kwame Owusu, 67 years, CEO of Ghana Maritime Authority and Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, 65 years, CEO of Forestry Commission.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosi Sen Thursday, Sir John who rubbished the report said the President was the only one who has the power to appoint and disappoint and therefore urged that the report be treated with the contempt it deserves.

“The President is the one who appointed me to take charge of that position. He cannot ask me to step down without any reason, he noted.