Senior persons in gov't 'suspended' Ashanti ECG boss - Koku Anyidoho

Some senior persons in government took the rather rash decision to suspend the Ashanti Regional East Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana in the wake of the lighting failure at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium Friday, Communications Director at the presidency has said.

Mr Koku Anyidoho told Joy FM's news analysis programme, Newsfile, Saturday he was with some senior persons when the decision was taken in the heat of the moment.

Whilst the nation bated its breath after flood lights at the stadium went off, resulting in over one hour suspension of the World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Lesotho, Mr Anyidoho said President JEA Mills was upset with the development and that the ECG Director for Ashanti had been suspended.

It transpired that the stadium was not running on power supplied by the ECG but rather generators installed there.

The energy ministry told Joy News no such decision had been taken.

The Information Ministry also issued a statement on Saturday stating that the government had not dismissed Alhaji Abdulai Kurah.

The statement signed by Information Minister Fritz Baffour stated partly that "Government has denied news reports indicating that the President has fired the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the wake of difficulties with the flood lights at the Kumasi Stadium last night.

"The President has given no such directive and it is therefore not true that the ECG boss in the Ashanti region has been fired."

Mr Anyidoho has accepted responsibility for the statement.

Legal Practitioner, Egbert Faibille described Koku's explanation as unacceptable.

He said the Communication Director's handling of the matter was irresponsible and irrational and that it had brought the presidency into disrepute.

Mr Faibille believes the President must act to preserve the sanctity of his office.