By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Mar 03, GNA – The report of the Committee set-up by the Government to probe into last minute recruitments and promotions made by the previous Government during the transition period following the December 7, 2024, general election, has been made public.
Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Communications, disclosed the content of the report at the Government Accountability Series Press Conference held at the Presidency in Accra.
He said after hearing from concerned persons and institutions, the Committee recommended that 1,539 of the recruitments, appointments and promotions be upheld, because they complied with the prescribed recruitment and promotion procedures and received appointments letters before 7th December 2024.
“This implies that they achieved a pass mark of 80 per cent or above,” he stated.
The Committee recommended that the recruitments, appointments and promotions of 541 persons be revoked because the recruitment processes ended after 7th December 2024 and failed to meet the pass mark.
He said also, the number of recruitments, appointments and promotions recommended for revocation by the Committee (541) was lower than the number that the institutions themselves revoked (879).
This, the Minister said was because the Committee paid special attention to vulnerable groups, including Persons with Disabilities, particularly within the Ghana Education Service.
He said obviously, the recruitments, appointments and promotions revoked were made in clear breach of procedures and directives issued during the transition period and did not comply with the Regulatory Framework and Guidelines for Recruitments, Appointments and Promotions in the Public Service.
Hence, the decision to revoke these appointments was not a witch-hunt and had no political motive beyond a desire to uphold due process and ensure compliance with the rules and proper procedures governing such recruitments and appointment.
Mr Ofosu said it was done without malice or ill-feeling towards anyone; adding that it was a necessary step to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.
He said the previous government was fully aware that basic requirements were not met in those cases and still went ahead to sanctions same.
“They completely disregarded the incoming administration when we requested to be consulted on the same leaving us no choice but to carry out this review.”
Mr Ofosu said of the 36 institutions that appeared before the committee, 28 had commenced the recruitment process before the 7th of December directive.
He said a total of 19 institutions revoked appointments made in response to the 7th of December 2024 revocation directive.
He noted that 17 institutions did not revoke their appointments but sought guidance from the President’s Office.
He said 16 of the cases reported by the institutions were mainly payroll-related.
Mr Ofosu said in total, 2,080 recruitments, appointments and promotions were reported by the institutions when they appeared before the Committees.
He said of these 2,080 recruitments, appointments and promotions, 879 were revoked by the institutions themselves, while 1,201 appointments were not revoked.
It would be recalled, that at the very first meeting of the Joint Transition Team formed after the 2024 elections, on 17th December, 2024, the side of the incoming Government raised concerns about reports of rushed and unlawful recruitments being made into public institutions in the immediate aftermath of the elections and substantial payments to contractors and other creditors.
Mr Ofosu said the incoming Government’s side of the Transition Team left the meeting under the clear impression that an agreement had been reached by both sides for all ongoing recruitments, promotions, significant statutory payments, and related activities to be submitted for the joint Team’s review.
Mr Ofosu said following the total disregard of this agreement by the outgoing Government, he authored a statement on behalf of the incoming Government stating their intent to revoke all such appointments and subjecting the same to thorough investigations.
He said on 10th February 2025, the Chief of Staff issued a letter directing that all appointments and recruitments made unlawfully after 7th December 2024 should be revoked.
He noted that shortly after, reports filtered in that some persons who were lawfully employed before 7th December 2025 or whose recruitment processes had commenced but had not been concluded before the elections also had their appointments revoked.
“To ensure fairness and prevent innocent persons from suffering unduly, the Chief of Staff, established a committee to investigate all affected recruitments, appointments and promotions, assess their compliance with established public sector processes, and make recommendations,” Mr Ofosu said.
The members of the Committee were: Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency and Chairperson of the Committee; and Dr Prince Edward Darah, Commissioner, Public Service Commission.
The rest are Madam Roda Gavor, Director Human Resources, Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment; Mr Bernard Adjei, Representative of Organized Labour; and Mr C.W. Ayiku, Secretary, Director, Finance and Administration, Office of the President.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba