Stop the mass termination of appointments in public service – TUC to Mahama

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to rescind the directive canceling all public sector appointments made after December 7, 2024.

This follows an order from Chief of Staff Julius Debrah instructing heads of government institutions to nullify any public service appointments and recruitments carried out beyond the stated date.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 25, TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah expressed deep concern over the widespread termination of appointments, particularly affecting teachers and nurses who have endured long waiting periods for employment.

“The mass termination of employment of teachers, nurses, and others, who have been educated at great cost to their families and the nation and who may have stayed at home for years struggling to obtain employment can be devastating for these young men and women. It is a blot on our democratic credentials. It can also completely sap the patriotism of these young men and women,” he warned.

The TUC cautioned that revoking these appointments could have long-term social and economic consequences, urging the government to reconsider its decision in the interest of national stability and fairness.

Below is the full statement by TUC
1. On February 10, 2025, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah issued a letter to “All Heads of Government Institutions” under the caption “Revocation of Appointments and Recruitments made after 7th December 2024”. In the said letter the Chief of Staff stated that “…all appointments and recruitments made in the Public Services of Ghana after 7th December, 2024 are not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles.

2. On the basis of this, the Chief of Staff, proceeded to ask Heads of Government Institutions “to take necessary steps to annul any such appointments or recruitments…”.

3. Following the directive, we have received reports of mass revocation of appointments including appointments that were done before December 7, 2024. In some of the organisations people who have been on contract for 5 years or more and whose appointments were only regularised in December, 2024 have been terminated losing even their contract status. This must be heart-breaking for these young men and women who are likely to be entering the labour market for the first time.

4. The TUC has closely monitored the spirited public discourse on the appropriateness or otherwise of the directive.

5. We find the directive by the Chief of Staff very problematic, to say the least. Not only is his directive open to abuse but we find it extremely difficult to understand how Government could describe all appointments or recruitments made after 7th December, 2024 as not in compliance with good governance practices and principles.

6. The issue of midnight appointments/recruitments has been a recurring practice that has alternated between the NDC and NPP. Statements from both the NPP and NDC on this matter clearly demonstrate their insincerity and inconsistency in their pronouncements and policies. In 2016, when H.E. John Dramani Mahama met with the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference after the elections he insisted that he remained the President and was responsible for steering the affairs of the country until he officially hands over power on January 7, 2017. He appointed new Commissioners for CHRAJ and NCCE and a new Auditor General. He even increased allowances for National Service Personnel.

7. The NPP vehemently protested and condemned these actions by President Mahama. In a statement on December 21, 2016, the Head of NPP Transition Team, Yaw Osafo Marfo described Mahama's appointments as “most disappointing and exhibits bad faith”.

8. Today, the NPP has done exactly what it strongly condemned in 2016. The NDC is not only condemning what the NPP has done but it is taking measures that are leading to the termination of thousands of employments of mostly young Ghanaians, some of whom have gone through the appropriate recruitment processes to secure their first jobs.

9. The TUC calls on H.E. John Dramani Mahama to stop the on-going terminations of appointments in the Public Service. The mass termination of employment of teachers, nurses and others, who have been educated at great cost to their families and the nation and who may have stayed at home for years struggling to obtain employment can be devastating for these young men and women. It is a blot on our democratic credentials. It can also completely sap the patriotism of these young men and women.

10. We expect President Mahama, to stop the country from sliding further down the partisan slippery hill. Just like the amnesty the President has granted to individuals who were recruited by the previous administration and who are currently undergoing training with the various security agencies, we urge the President to grant all appointments done by the previous administration similar amnesty. This will be the greatest political settlement of the 4th Republic. It will ripple in eternity and reset the politics of Ghana.

-ModernGhana