The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has pledged to “strongly resist” any partisan appointments in the Civil Service and Local Government Service.
The Association said that the incoming government, upon assuming office on January 7, 2025, must uphold the principle of neutrality within these services and avoid interfering with the roles of civil servants.
Speaking to a journalist at CLOGSAG’s Thanksgiving Service in Accra, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary, warned that the association would use “workers’ power” to oppose any actions that compromise the positions of civil servants.
“There is a Supreme Court decision that says that no civil servant must owe his appointment to partisan activities.
“We want to believe that the incoming Government will adhere to the Supreme Court ruling and ensure that politicians are not appointed to encumber civil service institutions,” he said.
The CLOGSAG also expressed concern about the “winner takes all” principle that allowed the President unfettered powers in the appointment of all public officers.
“Indeed, it is time for us to evaluate the democracy that has characterized the governance under the Fourth Republic to ascertain whether this type of governance is helping us to develop as a country,” Mr Addo said.
Mr. Addo stated that the country’s failure to effectively address the illegal mining problem highlights the weakness of Ghana’s decentralization structures.
He said that the battle against illegal mining should not be centralized, urging that District Assemblies take the lead in tackling the issue.
According to him, local authorities are better equipped to understand the challenges and implement sustainable solutions.
Delivering his New Year Message to members of CLOGSAG, Mr Addo said the year had been commendable despite the Association’s inability to achieve its goal of getting a Unique Salary
Structure and other conditions of service.
He said negotiations for a new salary structure were ongoing and assured members that their request “will see the light of day.”