National Housing Corporation in turmoil as personnel fight over top post

The position of the Managing Director at the National Housing Corporation has come under scrutiny again following a National Court decision which found that the appointment of the incumbent Henry Mokono in October 2021 did not follow  proper process.

 Residential housing in Port Moresby

The court decision on April 28, 2023 which stemmed from a judicial review filed by former acting Managing Director Elizabeth Bowada concluded that the NHC board was not consulted during the displacement of Bowada and the appointment of Mokono.

Bowada has argued through the judicial review that under the Regulatory Statutory Act (RSA) the NHC Board must be consulted or the process was flawed.

Mr Mokono has released a statement being concerned that following the courts ruling by Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, Bowada's team had attempted to take over the office of the NHC but he said the court ruling 'never' gave orders for Bowada to assume the role as MD.

He has appealed to the police hierarchy within the NCD Metropolitan Command to issue instructions to their officers to stand down and not to take sides and disrupt normal operations of the NHC, and protect state institutions and public servants.

Mokono who was appointed to the position on October 26,2021 said his lawyers were already in Court and appealing the ruling by Deputy Chief Justice, Ambeng Kandakasi as well as seeking further clarifications on his April 28, 2023 ruling on Bowada’s judicial review.

Since his appointment, Mokono highlights tasks he had progressed in the areas  not limited to:    

• implementing a new organizational structure, staff development and up-skilling to bring credibility to the organization;

• installing accountability, transparency, good governance, restoring virtues and best practices;

• down-sizing of NHC work force from 380 to 218 and saving government of K6 million in wages annually;

• Deliver the stalled Durand Farm Housing project;

• Renovation of the NHC Tokarara headquarters which government has already allocated more than K10 million for this purpose;

• Cleansing and prosecution of those engaged in corruption and the mess in the NHC and restoring public confidence in the organization.