Minister of State for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has accused the former Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration of bypassing due process in making last-minute public service appointments.
He stated that a thorough review of the appointment process uncovered multiple irregularities, with many appointees in the final days not submitting formal application letters to their respective institutions.
He further alleged that some individuals were hired without undergoing interviews to evaluate their suitability, while others did not complete necessary medical examinations.
These findings, he noted, raise significant concerns about the legality of these appointments and their potential financial impact on the current government.
In an interview with Citi FM, he recalled that on December 17, he had warned on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) transition team that such appointments would be revoked once the new government took office.
He reiterated that the government cannot allow individuals to be recruited into the public and civil service without following due process.
His comments come in response to questions about why Chief of Staff Julius Debrah revoked all public service appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024.
“Some government agencies, ministries, and institutions were feverishly employing people in the dying embers of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. We expressed concern about this because we knew it was going to have an impact on our fiscal position, especially at a time when the country was struggling.
“We have looked into the matter and found that due process was bypassed in the appointments that were made. Some didn’t put in any application at all, others didn’t go through interviews, and some who should have gone through medical examinations didn’t go through.
“In some cases, the appointment letters were backdated, except that when you look into the payroll, you will not find that they have received any payment at all since they were employed. To that extent, we deem them unlawful and illegal. And as a government, we cannot afford a situation where people are illegally recruited into the public and civil service without due process,” he stated.