The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and former National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, Sammi Awuku has raised an alarm over what he terms the double appointments of Ms. Emefa Donkor by the Mahama administration.
Ms. Donkor who serves as Managing Director of GoldBod Jewellery, a state-owned enterprise, is also the Board chair of the Ghana Tourism Authority. According to Mr. Awuku, Ms. Dokor’s position at the GoldBod Jewellery is one of the more demanding executive roles in Ghana’s public sector. The role he argues requires full executive attention, strategic direction, stakeholder management, operational oversight, and direct accountability to the state.
In a social media post, the lawmaker questioned why such a role will be combined with that of the Board of the Ghana Tourism Authority, a statutory body responsible for the regulation, promotion, and development of one of Ghana’s most significant economic sectors.
“This is not about personalities. It is about compliance with the law.
If a person heads a public institution, exercises public authority and manages public resources on behalf of the state, can that person still be considered a private sector representative under the Tourism Act?”
Awuku argued that while Article 70 gives the President authority to appoint, that authority “must be exercised in accordance with the laws governing our public institutions.”
“The Tourism Act did not simply require a Chairperson; it specifically required one from the private sector.” He added.
The MP also raised broader concerns about the concentration of appointments. “Is there a shortage of qualified Ghanaians for these important national assignments? Why should multiple strategic appointments be concentrated in the hands of one individual when many capable professionals remain available to serve?”
He referenced government’s promises of a 24-hour economy and the “1:3:3 formula — one job, three people, three shifts to create more opportunities,” stating that current trends “appear to suggest the opposite: fewer opportunities being shared among more people and more appointments being concentrated among a select few.”
Awuku further questioned whether there were no competent professionals within the tourism, hospitality, travel, events, and creative arts sectors, or qualified NDC members, who could chair the GTA Board.
Addressing a possible defense, he noted: “Government may argue that the appointment to the Ghana Tourism Authority preceded Ms. Donkor’s appointment as Managing Director of GoldBod. But if circumstances have changed and she now heads a state institution, should the legal requirement not still be respected?”
He called on the Presidency and the Ministry of Tourism to provide clarity. “Mr. President, we cannot claim to be strengthening institutions while appearing to overlook provisions deliberately enacted to protect and strengthen those same institutions,” Awuku said.
According to him “the Ministry of Tourism owes Ghanaians a clear explanation. Until then, this appointment raises more questions than answers.”
Below is the social media post of the Akuapem North lawmaker:
