Seasoned media practitioner ClassPee Della Russel has strongly criticized the newly appointed Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, over her recent engagement with waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, raising serious questions about the transparency and due diligence of her decision-making.
Russel’s concerns stem from Minister Ocloo’s publicized engagement with Zoomlion, which she described as an effort to improve sanitation within the region.
However, in a strongly worded statement, Russel questioned the legitimacy and procedural integrity of the Minister’s approach, highlighting what she believes to be critical lapses in governance and accountability.
“The presence of former appointees, whom the Minority Leader termed ‘wise men”, accompanying you to the vetting alone raised a red flag. The Leader then publicly stated that they were informed you couldn’t withstand scrutiny, and this informed their decision to give you a free pass.”
ClassPee Della Russel
A major point of contention raised by Russel was the Minister’s direct visit to Zoomlion’s offices, which she deemed highly inappropriate and procedurally flawed.
“In your caption on your social media post, you indicate that the engagements with the Jospong Group were to improve sanitation in the region. This clearly indicates that you engaged them in an official capacity and on behalf of the people and the appointing authority, and not in a personal capacity.”
ClassPee Della Russel
The veteran journalist stressed that any official engagement of this nature should involve the relevant technical experts from the Minister’s office, particularly those with institutional knowledge of existing contracts and obligations.
Instead, Ocloo’s independent visit to the waste management company without any officials from her office has raised suspicions of hasty and unilateral decision-making.
“What briefing did she receive before embarking on this engagement in her first week in office? She seem alone in the photos too? Where was her Chief Director and other technical people from the RCC? Or the engagements were held in her personal capacity?”
ClassPee Della Russel
Failure to Consult with Local Government Authorities
Russel further criticized the Minister for failing to first engage the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) under her jurisdiction before reaching out to private sector entities.
“In your position, your first priority would have been to meet with the Coordinating Directors of the various MMDAs under the region to determine if any such contract exists.”
ClassPee Della Russel
If contracts with Zoomlion or any other entity had already been signed under her predecessor, Russel argued, it would have been prudent for the Minister to seek legal guidance from the Attorney General’s office on the best way forward rather than embarking on external engagements without proper institutional input.
While advocating for increased female participation in leadership roles, Russel emphasized the importance of competence and integrity in governance. “Madam, while we want women in charge, we want those who can go into the roles with their heads up high and exit with the same dignity,” she concluded.
In an earlier critique, renowned and award-winning investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awnuni raised deep concerns concerning the new Greater Accra Regional Minister’s engagement with Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, the Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group.
Manasseh, in an open letter to the new Minister, expressed his dismay that one of Ocloo’s first moves after assuming office was to meet with Joseph Siaw Agyepong, CEO of Zoomlion and Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, to discuss a collaboration to keep Accra clean, accusing her of “courting corruption and not solutions”.
The controversy also underscores broader concerns about how key government officials interact with private entities, especially within sectors prone to contract and financial mismanagement.
With growing public interest in the matter, Minister Ocloo is expected to clarify her stance and explain the rationale behind her engagement with Zoomlion. Whether this will restore public trust or further deepen scrutiny remains to be seen.
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