By Stanley Brookman
In an astounding case of corporate scandal and financial recklessness, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Reginald Yoofi Grant, is revealed to have departed with a trail of debt exceeding 50 million cedis, sources disclose.
Insiders and documented evidence obtained by The New Republic newspaper show that Mr. Grant, who is preparing to abscond to a foreign haven, shamelessly demands an exorbitant retirement package from the very institution he is accused of defrauding.
Under Mr. Grant’s leadership, the GIPC, a pivotal government agency promoting investments in Ghana, has suffered greatly due to negligence, self-enrichment, and a disregard for the welfare of its staff and the nation’s interests.
Unveiling a Pension Crisis One of the most striking acts of neglect during Mr. Grant’s tenure was the systematic failure to pay statutory pension contributions for GIPC employees.
Investigations reveal that under his watch, contributions to pension schemes were left unpaid, a breach of labor laws and trust with hardworking personnel.
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had to resort to legal action to reclaim the unpaid sums, raising suspicions of collusion leading to the abrupt withdrawal of the case due to Mr. Grant’s ties with the then-SSNIT Director-General.
Rent Disasters and Fiscal Mismanagement In addition to the pension blunder, Mr. Grant’s leadership was marred by questionable real estate decisions and financial mismanagement, leaving the institution in disarray.
Under his direction, the GIPC opted to rent a costly property without a binding agreement, accumulating rent arrears for 2024 and necessitating borrowing just to meet payroll obligations.
This lavish spending contrasts sharply with the institution’s depleted reserves and lack of beneficial returns from Mr. Grant’s excessive global travels.
Frequent Flyer, Minimal Investor Sources within the GIPC report Mr. Grant’s extravagant overseas trips, despite financial constraints that led him to fund some trips himself, sparking suspicions about his motivations.
The Great Escape and Benefit Pursuit In a bold move, Mr. Grant, accused of depleting GIPC’s funds and planning to seek refuge abroad, monitors financial flows while anticipating substantial retirement benefits.
Amidst public outrage, demands for accountability and restitution are escalating, with experts condemning Grant’s actions as a betrayal of trust and advocating for stringent repercussions to uphold ethical standards.
As the nation seeks to recover allegedly misappropriated funds, international cooperation avenues may be explored, including asset freezes and extradition if evidence warrants.
The path to restoring public confidence in the GIPC demands unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership to rectify the damage caused by Mr. Grant’s actions.
