Eric Yao

Eric Yao was a Ghanaian government executive. He was the Managing Director of Ghana Post, the national postal service, until February 2017 when he was removed following accusations by Ghana Post employees of embezzlement and unethical behavior.[1][2]

Career

He was appointed as Managing Director of Ghana Post in August 2015. During his tenure the service continued to suffer a steep fall in stamp revenue and lost money, falling short of the GH¢ 2 million needed every month in 2016 to meet the payroll.[3][4]

In an effort to find revenue growth outside of traditional postal service, he explored a number of ventures with private enterprises. This included a plan announced in 2016 to establish a microfinance company that was to mature into a commercial bank.[3] Other plans included entering into the business segments of haulage and logistics and real estate business.[4] Yao was especially keen to develop businesses ICT and e-commerce.[4]

Part of the turnaround strategy under Yao was to leverage the property owned by the service in the country's main cities to gain additional revenue through side lines. In Accra and Kumasi the Ghana Post entered into partnerships with private companies to start new business ventures.[3] This meant clearing lands owned by Ghana Post by evicting squatters. In a October 2015 media tour, Yao showed the media efforts to clear lands owned by Ghana Post in Bubuashie of "mechanical shops, cattle farms, football parks, churches, and other unauthorised activities and structures" through a demolition exercise.[5]

During his last year as MD, Yao faced a lack of public confidence in the quality of the service delivered by Ghana Post and even allegations that service had ceased.[6] Yao countered these criticisms in an August 2016 public event aimed at promoting the launch of Peaceful Elections stamps ahead of the General Election in 2016 by stating, "Ghana Post is very much alive contrary to some perceptions out there that we no longer exist."[6]

Embezzlement accusations

On January 26, 2017, employees of Ghana Post publicly protested against the current management, leveling accusations of embezzlement.[2] Some of the Ghana Post employees accused Yao of colluding with Head of ICT, Godfred Aboagye, and director of finance and administration, Solomon Agyeito, to embezzle funds.[7] Aboagye was promptly removed from his job and put under investigation for embezzlement.[7]

In an interview with employees, TV3 Ghana reported employees suspected that "outrageous" amounts paid to purchase 2 blade servers for a maintenance program had been embezzled by Yao, Aboagye and Agyeito.[2] The employees in the same interview also alleged that Yao and his deputy Agyeito had purchased cars, a 4-wheel drive and a saloon car, for themselves using the service's money without going through standard procurement channels. On investigating the allegations, TV3 Ghana reported that employees operating at Ghana Post's transportation office stated there were no procurement documents for the cars purchased by Yao and his deputy.[2]

In the following month the Government of Ghana removed Yao from his post and appointed James Y. A. Kwofie as the Acting Managing Director with effect on February 22, 2017.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Akufo-Addo appoints new Ghana Post MD". Citi News. February 25, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Why Unionised Staff Want Ghana Post Management Dissolved". Ghana Star. February 3, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ghana Post To Establish Bank". Daily Guide. November 21, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ghana Post Diversifies Operations". Modern Guide. December 20, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Ghana Post to reclaim lands from encroachers". Press Ghana. October 2, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Ofori, Maxwell (August 23, 2016). "Ghana Post Is Not Dead –MD". Ghana Plus.
  7. 1 2 "Ghana Post ICT boss interdicted over embezzlement claims". Citi News. January 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Meet Ghana Post New Managing Director". Business Ghana. March 16, 2017.
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