Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has dismissed claims that President John Mahama is terminating the appointments of employees hired under the previous administration.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday, February 28, he described the allegations made by the Minority Leader after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as deliberate distortions and propaganda.
“President Mahama is not sacking everybody employed under the last administration. That is not what is happening. If you were employed before the transition, you are fine,” he stated.
Using his own ministry as an example, Ablakwa explained that employment records showed financial clearance was granted by the Finance Ministry as far back as July, with budget allocations made for hiring additional staff that year. He noted that while some employees received their appointment letters in November and December, the recruitment process had started much earlier.
“At the Foreign Ministry, I have explained to the President that what we have seen is that the process started much earlier, so not a single person at the Foreign Ministry is being dismissed,” he said.
He added that similar assessments had been conducted in other ministries, confirming that employees hired through due process were not being let go. However, he emphasized that the real concern was “malicious recruitments” made after the elections, which any government would scrutinize.
Ablakwa advised future administrations to recruit at the right time rather than delaying employment until after losing an election, which he argued creates a fiscal burden for the incoming government.
“What we can learn from this is that when we are in power and there is space to employ people, let’s do it early and not wait until after losing an election to create a fiscal burden for the next government,” he said.
READ ALSO: