A Deputy CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Linda Boamah Asante appointed by Akufo-Addo in 2022 has been maintained under the NDC administration despite being a political appointee.
Three years ago, Linda Asante was appointed Deputy CEO of NPA by then President Akufo-Addo pursuant to Section 49 (1) of the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691), along with Perry Okudzeto.
Perry Okudzeto who was appointed together with Linda Asante has since left the authority following the assumption of office of President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress.
However, Linda Boamah Asante is said to have maneuvered to be maintained at post as Director of Inspections, Monitoring and Health, Safety and Environment (IM&HSE) of the NPA, sources say with the blessing of Chief of Staff Julius Debrah.
Despite accepting a political appointment from President Akufo-Addo on February 2022 and her appointment confirmed by the Governing Board of the NPA, the NPP appointee is said to be still at post.
She is reportedly associated with the New Patriotic Party even before her appointment in 2022 and has close relationships with Akufo-Addo, former Energy Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh among other top figures of the erstwhile administration.
The acting CEO of the NPA, Godwin Tamakloe is reportedly aware of the development as he led the restructuring that saw her maintained at post.
This comes amidst internal NDC agitations over the continued stay of Martin Ayisi, as the Minerals Commission’s (MinCom) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as well as other Akufo-Addo appointees at the Ghana Airport company and the Food and Drugs Authority.
Ayisi, who like Linda Asante is a known NPP figure served as a member of the party’s 2017 transition team, ascended to the MinCom leadership at a time when Ghana’s mining sector was grappling with illegal mining, also known as “Galamsey”.
