The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has intensified his allegations against the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and its Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Boadi Mensah, citing a pattern of reckless financial management, governance breaches, nepotism, and a deliberate lack of transparency. Speaking at a series of press briefings on Sunday, April 19, Mr. Assafuah has repeatedly called for the CEO's removal, emphasizing that the issues at stake are critical to safeguarding the pensions of Ghanaian workers.

Among the most serious accusations is Mr. Assafuah's claim that approximately GHS 30 million of pension contributors’ funds have been expended within Mr. Boadi Mensah's first year in office through what the MP described as "needless sole-sourced procurements." He highlighted several high-value transactions, including a GH¢4.2 million consultancy engagement and a vehicle procurement arrangement valued at over GH¢17 million and an additional $160,000, all reportedly executed through sole sourcing. Mr. Assafuah questioned the justification for these decisions, particularly engaging a consultant at an estimated monthly cost of GH¢175,000, which he suggested raises concerns about role duplication and whether such arrangements serve genuine institutional needs. He further pointed to procurement records indicating the acquisition of multiple vehicles in 2025, with one reportedly registered under a company linked to the supplier, raising serious questions about procurement integrity, asset ownership, and adherence to due process. The MP warned that while sole sourcing is permissible under specific conditions, its repeated use for major contracts suggests a pattern of convenience and favoritism rather than necessity.

Mr. Assafuah also brought to light allegations of nepotism and irregular promotions within the NPRA. He specifically cited the case of Ms. Rosemary Estella Opandoh, who he claims is related to the wife of the NPRA CEO. According to Mr. Assafuah, Ms. Opandoh was engaged as contract staff in May 2025 but was rapidly promoted to a managerial role, Manager for Risk, within just two months. He argued that this swift progression bypassed established public sector procedures, including performance evaluation and competitive promotion processes. Adding to these concerns, the MP alleged that Ms. Opandoh benefited from an "excessive and unjustified" transfer grant of GH¢90,000 following her reassignment to the Authority’s headquarters, a sequence of events he states reflects preferential treatment at the highest levels of the Authority.

A significant point of contention for Mr. Assafuah is the NPRA's alleged deliberate silence on key allegations. He expressed deep concern over the Authority’s failure to respond to claims of politically motivated staff transfers costing nearly GHS 1 million. Despite releasing an official statement addressing other matters, the NPRA notably avoided this specific allegation. Mr. Assafuah asserted that this silence is not an oversight but a calculated attempt to evade scrutiny, undermining public trust and raising broader governance concerns within the pensions sector. "Silence, in this instance, cannot be mistaken for innocence," he stressed.

Furthermore, the MP accused the NPRA of obstructing transparency by refusing to comply with a formal Right to Information (RTI) request he submitted on March 17, 2026. This request sought "specific and verifiable data" on the management of Ghana’s pension space but was rejected by the Authority, which cited principles from the International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS). Mr. Assafuah criticized this move as legally flawed, maintaining that such principles are not binding under Ghanaian law and cannot override the provisions of the RTI Act. He argued that the refusal to disclose lawful information raises more questions than answers, pointing to deeper governance issues. He also noted that the NPRA's public response, while describing his concerns as "false and misleading," failed to directly address the core issues, effectively confirming gaps and raising more troubling questions.

In light of these numerous allegations, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has maintained his call for President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and remove Chief Executive Officer Christopher Boadi Mensah. He insists that his actions are grounded in his constitutional oversight responsibilities and a commitment to protecting Ghanaian workers' pension funds. The MP warned that such alleged actions, if left unchecked, would severely erode public confidence in the management of pension funds and pose a significant threat to sound corporate governance and accountability within the pensions regulator.