Halt mass public sector terminations – TUC tells Mahama
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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to rescind the directive ordering the cancellation of all public sector appointments made after December 7, 2024.
This appeal follows a directive from the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, instructing heads of government institutions to revoke appointments and recruitments made after the specified date.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 25, the TUC’s Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, expressed concern over the widespread termination of public service employees, including teachers and nurses who have waited years for employment. He warned that such actions could have severe social and economic consequences.
“The mass termination of employment for teachers, nurses, and others—individuals who have undergone extensive education at great personal and national cost—could be devastating.
Many of these young people have endured years of unemployment, and such dismissals not only undermine their aspirations but also tarnish our democratic principles. This move risks eroding their sense of patriotism,” the statement emphasized.
Concerns Over the Directive
The TUC highlighted several issues with the directive:
1. On February 10, 2025, the Chief of Staff issued a letter to all government institution heads, instructing them to revoke appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024. The letter described these appointments as inconsistent with good governance practices.
2. Following this instruction, reports indicate that appointments made before December 7, 2024, are also being revoked. Some individuals, who had served on contract for over five years and were only recently regularized, have lost their positions entirely.
3. The TUC described the directive as "problematic," warning that it is susceptible to abuse. The organization questioned how the government could classify all post-December 7 appointments as contrary to good governance.
4. The union criticized the recurring trend where successive governments, both the NDC and NPP, make or revoke "midnight appointments" after elections. They noted that in 2016, President Mahama defended his right to govern until the end of his term, making key appointments despite protests from the NPP. Ironically, the current NDC administration is now taking actions it once condemned.
Call for Reversal and Political Unity
The TUC urged President Mahama to reconsider the ongoing dismissals, particularly for young professionals who have followed proper recruitment processes. They warned that such terminations could worsen unemployment and deepen political divisions.
The statement concluded with a call for the President to grant amnesty to all affected public servants, similar to the clemency extended to recruits undergoing training in security agencies. According to the TUC, such a gesture would foster political reconciliation and set a positive precedent for future administrations.
“We urge President Mahama to prevent further partisan division. Granting amnesty to these public servants would be a profound act of political reconciliation and could reshape the future of Ghanaian politics,” the statement concluded.
Source: gesquicknewsseekers.com
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