GNPC Sponsorship Saga: IES Worried EOCO May Compromise On Its Investigative Mandate

The Institute for Energy Security, an energy think tank in the Republic of Ghana, has raised concern about the sponsorship package which the West African country’s national oil company, GNPC, approved for anti-graft body Economic and Organised Crime body, EOCO.

IES is worried that such acts may influence the investigative body and, thus, prevent them from investigating the wrongdoings of the GNPC.

“The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) mandated to monitor and investigate economic and organised crime is expected to hold institutions like the GNPC accountable. It must not, therefore, allow itself to be compromised in any form or shape. It is important to note that CSR and conflict of interest are not bed fellows.

“GNPC’s corporate pursuit of social goals must be pursued with ethical considerations. The Board must, therefore, ensure that the corporation takes up initiatives that protect its reputation, and position the ‘Brand GNPC’ to become the operator Ghanaians so much desire,” a statement signed by the Executive Director of IES, Paa Kwasi Anamua Sakyi said.

“The GNPC Board must differentiate good (sustainable) from bad (short-term) self interest in order to stress the genuineness of their approvals given to cultural and investigative issues, ” the statement added.

The call comes in the wake of an internal memo which revealed how the corporation has approved over GHS 2.7m sponsorship package for some institutions including the 20th anniversary celebration of the Okyenhene and Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation, a foundation owned by Ghana’s First Lady.

The memo noted that the GNPC’s Brand, Communication and CSR Committee approved GHc120, 000 for the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation, GHc550, 000 for the Economic and Organised Crime Office, US$30,000 for the Ghana Boxing Association, GHc50, 000 for the Ghana Journalists Association, GHc400, 000 for the Samba Festival Preparation and GHc1, 500,000 towards the 20th Anniversary of the Okyenhene for the environment and greening.

Below is the full statement

GNPC’s CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) MUST BE PURSUED WITH ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. In the current approval from the Board of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the entity, you see a clear drift from the strategic path the company has set for itself and pursued over the years as an anchor of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
2. The understanding is that the Corporation has adopted a more definitive approach to CSR by executing fewer, yet bigger and bolder initiatives in the area of health, education, and sport development; aimed at establishing GNPC as an admired brand.
3. The Institute for Energy Security (IES) is curious in the decision of the Board, and wishes to understand the factors that are influencing the inclusion of cultural and investigative related issues in the company’s CSR activities. The Board must help clarify and justify the changes to the goal posts, knowing very well that some elements in its approvals are at odds with their own CSR policies.
4. It must be noted that political interference have not done any good to especially state owned enterprises (SoE’s) in Ghana’s energy sector, and to Ghanaians in general. If the government has any commitment to any State or Stool, it must not use the GNPC to prosecute that agenda. The GNPC must be seen to be independent when it comes to issues like CSRs, than to be used as a funding source for government’s initiatives and mandates.
5. The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) mandated to monitor and investigate economic and organized crime, is expected to hold institutions like the GNPC accountable. It must not therefore allow itself to be compromised in any form or shape. It is important to note that CSR and conflict of interest are not bed fellows.
6. GNPC’s corporate pursuit of social goals must be pursued with ethical considerations. The Board must therefore ensure that the corporation takes up initiatives that protect its reputation, and position the “Brand GNPC” to become the Operator Ghanaians so much desire.
7. The GNPC Board must differentiate good (sustainable) from bad (short-term) self interest in order to stress the genuineness of their approvals given to cultural and investigative issues.