Three new staffers are working for Mayor Rob Ford following two weeks of staff departures from his office.

“We’ve hired three great people today and I'm planning to hire early next week another three or four people” Ford announced at a news conference Friday afternoon.

“I have three movers and shakers -- people that want to come here, want to work hard,” Ford said.

He did not provide the names of his new employees, or say whether they are filling vacant roles. His office had been conducting interviews for the “last few weeks,” he said.

He also declined to outline his new staffers’ roles and responsibilities.

“Everybody here works for one person -- that’s the taxpayer,” he said.

The new hires come amid several staff departures from the mayor’s office, including one that came to light Friday.

Ford confirmed that a sixth employee, special assistant Michael Prempeh, is leaving his office.

Ford said he’s been aware of Prempeh’s plan to exit city hall for some time.

“Michael Prempeh told me well over a month and half ago that he wanted to open up his own business," Ford said, adding that he encouraged Prempeh to pursue other job interests, and wished him "all the best."

Five other staffers either quit their jobs or were fired from Ford’s office in the past two weeks. Mark Towhey, George Christopoulos and Isaac Ransom had previously left their positions.

Brian Johnston, who served as policy advisory and council relations in Ford’s office, was escorted out of city hall Thursday, telling CTV Toronto he left “on his own accord.”

The mayor’s office also confirmed Thursday that Kia Nejatian, executive assistant to the mayor, was no longer working for Ford.

Ford again dodged questions about an alleged video that reportedly shows him smoking from a glass pipe. The U.S. website Gawker and the Star first reported on the video, with reporters describing a man they said resembled Ford sitting in a chair in a room, smoking from a crack pipe.

Instead, Ford discussed changes at Toronto Community Housing and the resulting savings during Friday’s news conference.