In a detailed statement, former Vice-President Dr. Bawumia has accused the government of arbitrarily terminating the employment of Ghanaians who had served under the previous administration, leaving qualified professionals without jobs.
“It is ironic that a party which campaigned on the wings of jobs for all Ghanaians is arbitrarily dismissing the same Ghanaians, rendering them jobless, just because a different government employed them to put their talents to bear on the nation’s development,” Dr. Bawumia said.
He further claimed that these dismissals are not confined to political appointees alone; civil servants and directors, who are not politically affiliated—are also being affected. He warned that if employment decisions continue to be influenced by political affiliation rather than merit, Ghana risks losing vital skilled professionals in sectors such as security, healthcare, and education.
“There are also reports of government’s intention to terminate the appointments of persons performing critical jobs such as security personnel, nurses, and teachers simply because they were appointed during the tenure of the previous administration. That will be most unfortunate,” he stated.
Emphasizing the need for a proactive approach, Dr. Bawumia argued that the NDC government should prioritize job creation over dismissals, especially amid challenging economic conditions. “The least a party that campaigned on jobs could do under conditions of unemployment is to also innovate and create jobs rather than dismiss people,” he added.
The former Vice President also warned that reduced job security could dampen consumer spending, thereby slowing overall economic activity. Social media users have weighed in on the issue; one post on X read: “Terminating high profile appointments, is fine but not appointments of ordinary citizens. An en-masse termination wouldn’t be right except for people who did not qualify for their roles. use the power well!”
Another commented: “The previous government acted in bad faith! why wait until after you have lost election before employ people?. The joke is on them.”
Bawumia’s statement also highlighted concerns over institutional stability and governance, factors that could undermine investor confidence and impede capital inflows as well as private sector expansion.
“These are certainly worrying times for our democracy, and the earlier action is taken to protect institutions and democratic practice, the better it would be for Ghana’s forward march,” he cautioned.
In a related commentary, Dr. John Kwabena Kwakye, Head of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), called for the establishment of a US-style Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline public sector staffing and reduce government expenditure. Dr. Kwakye’s proposal however beneficial to the tax payer, comes amid ongoing talks over the dismissals at government agencies and Ghana’s persistent unemployment rate.
Forecasts from Fitch Solutions indicate that the unemployment rate, which stood at 4% in both 2023 and 2024, is expected to remain steady through 2025. Ghana’s long-term economic trajectory will depend on maintaining a stable workforce, preserving institutional independence, and fostering a business-friendly environment.
