Yes, I couldn’t answer some questions, but…- embattled EPA boss admits

Executive Director of the Environment Protection, Peter Abum Sarkodie has admitted his inability to answer some questions posed to him when he appeared before the Public Service Commission for his regularization process. “Yes of course, in an interview you may not be able to answer every question, I remember there were two technical questions that the panel asked and I thought I did not have the answer, and I was honest with myself and said I couldn’t answer,” Peter Abum Sarkodie conceded on 3FM’S Sunrise morning show on Tuesday. The EPA boss however attributed his inability to answer the questions to the lack of preparation which he said was because he was not informed about his appearance before the Commission on time. Although he appeared before the Commission some eight months ago, his performance was presented to President Akufo-Addo just recently, which some have alleged that the EPA boss failed the interview. He revealed in an interview with Winston Amoah, host of 3FM’s Sunrise show, that he was invited by the President after the outcome of the interview was presented to him. Asked what ensued between him and the President, Peter Abum Sarkodie would not disclose what he and the President discussed. He recalled that he had just been at post for a week when he appeared before the Commission; hence he did not have a lot of knowledge on technical issues. According to the EPA boss, the Minister in charge of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Frimpong Boateng only informed him a night before the set date for his appearance. Peter Abum Sarkodie stated that he had discussions with the minister where he found out that he was supposed to go through a public service regularization process, but he was not informed that it was going to be an interview of a sort. “I got home and the minister sent me a message that, Sarkodie you have to go and appear before the Public Service Commission with your certificate, birth certificate etc, and I was like how come this is as if I had applied for appointment directly from Commission,” the EPA boss noted. He however stated that the interview was not one that was beyond him to the extent that he would fail. “For me, it was not any interview that I would say I could not have gotten an ordinary pass mark if even I was to be scored, this was not a competitive interview.” The EPA Executive Director added that he only prepared casually for the process because he felt it was only a regularization process that would not entail a lot of questions or technicalities. Peter Abum Sarkodie noted that he was still at post as Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency despite reports that he had been relieved of his post. He also admitted that there are some top NPP members who are scheming to get him out as the EPA boss. By Irene Amesimeku| 3news.com| Ghana]]>