The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to reverse its decision to revoke the appointments of individuals recruited into the public service after December 7, 2024. The move has sparked widespread concern, leaving many young people anxious about their future as some have already had their appointments terminated.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and protect the livelihoods of those affected. He emphasized that recruitment into public service is a process, not a one-time event, and that those who have undergone the necessary selection procedures should not be arbitrarily dismissed.
“Recruitment is not an event; it is a process. So, I do not think that he intended that people who have gone through aptitude tests and interviews should be sent home. But it is all over the place that our countrymen and women are being sent home. Where do they find food to eat? How do they feed their families? What is going to be their future?” Afenyo-Markin questioned.
The Minority caucus believes that revoking these appointments is unfair and detrimental to the affected individuals, many of whom have worked hard to secure their positions through the appropriate channels. They argue that these dismissals will not only disrupt lives but also set a dangerous precedent where political transitions result in mass job losses, undermining confidence in the public service system.
However, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, rejected the Minority’s call, attributing the situation to what he described as the reckless recruitment of workers into the public sector by the outgoing Akufo-Addo administration. He argued that the previous government deliberately overloaded the public sector with partisan appointments, making it difficult for the new administration to manage the wage bill.
“If you engage in such recklessness and you know that you are leaving office, and you decide to load the public sector with workers, what do you expect? I made those statements at the transition meetings, and I am repeating them here. It is reckless for you to know that you are leaving office and yet you decide to fill the public sector with employees for the incoming government to inherit,” Ayariga stated.
According to him, many of the recruits were party foot soldiers and relatives of key figures within the previous administration. He contended that the recruitment process lacked transparency, fairness, and meritocracy, further justifying the revocation of these appointments.
“If we go and interrogate this recruitment, it will come out that the process was an abuse of discretion. There was no proper advertisement. People sat down, agreed among themselves, brought together foot soldiers, and then went ahead to recruit them,” he added.
The debate over public sector recruitment has long been a contentious issue in Ghana, with each government facing accusations of favoritism and political bias in hiring practices. The current development adds to an ongoing conversation about how to ensure fairness and efficiency in public sector employment, especially during political transitions.
For the affected individuals, the uncertainty surrounding their appointments has caused immense distress. Many had planned their lives around their new jobs, making financial commitments based on their expected salaries. The abrupt termination of their employment has left them struggling to find alternatives in a job market that remains highly competitive and limited in opportunities.
Several labor unions and civil society organizations have also weighed in on the matter, calling for a more structured and transparent approach to public sector employment. Some groups have urged the government to conduct a thorough audit of the recruitment process rather than implementing blanket dismissals that could unfairly affect those who genuinely qualified for their roles.
Legal experts have also questioned the basis of the revocations, arguing that individuals who secured their appointments through lawful means should not be dismissed without due process. Some have suggested that affected persons explore legal options to challenge their terminations in court.
The situation has reignited calls for a more independent public service hiring system that is insulated from political influence. Some analysts have proposed the establishment of a non-partisan employment body that oversees recruitment into the public sector, ensuring that appointments are based strictly on merit and not political allegiance.
As the controversy unfolds, there is growing pressure on the government to provide clear justifications for the revocations and outline steps to ensure that future recruitments are conducted in a more transparent and accountable manner. While the Majority insists that the move is necessary to correct past wrongs, the Minority continues to argue that punishing innocent recruits is not the solution.
For now, the fate of those affected remains uncertain. Many are hoping that the government will reconsider its stance and adopt a more measured approach in addressing concerns about public sector recruitment. Whether or not President Mahama will heed the call of the Minority and other stakeholders remains to be seen. However, what is clear is that this issue will remain a major point of discussion in the political and economic landscape of the country.
