Mr. President, this is a Dangerous Precedent !
Kindly reverse it!
The future of Ghanaian youths are at stake in your latest directive.
In January 2017, when Hon. Osafo-Marfo during his vetting suggested a revocation of appointments made after the 2016 December elections, the Akufo-Addo government rejected that pronouncement as it considered it unconstitutional. The NPP respected the fact that President Mahama’s mandate ran until January 6, 2017. For that matter , Osafo Marfo’s prescription was not implemented. So, why is it different today?
In line with that, the Akufo-Addo government did not revoke the appointments of CHRAJ, the Auditor-General, or the NCCE heads, all because we believed in continuity and respect for due process. Why is that principle being abandoned now?
Ghanaians who received appointments after December 7, 2024, are not second-class citizens. They have a right to work, just like everyone else. They went through a rigorous process before gaining employment with the Government. Denying them access to employment is a flagrant violation of their economic rights under Article 24 of the 1992 Constitution and SDG 8 which aims to promote full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Recruitment is a process, not an event. Mr. President may I remind you that many of these appointment processes were initiated long before the election in December 2024. Are we now saying that employment of public servants in Ghana is coterminous with the life of a specific government which employed them? This definitely cannot be the case!
Mr President, I respectfully indicate to you that any attempt to revoke lawful appointments is not just unconstitutional but also retrogressive. If this directive is allowed to stand, it will send a dangerous message to young Ghanaians that their future is tied not to their competence, but to which party happened to be in power at the time they were employed.
Modern day governance should not be about punishing perceived political opponents. We must rise above partisanship in our quest to create employment opportunities for party supporters and put the country first.
Let’s not toy with the future of the Ghanaian Youth.
By: Sammi Awuku, the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North
