body-container-line-1
13.04.2004 General News

Civil Servants Advised To Stay Away From Partisan Politics

13.04.2004 LISTEN
By Daily Graphic

The office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) has asked all civil servants who intend to take part in active politics during this election year to resign.

“Civil servants who may be tempted to engage in any overt political activity, such as campaigning openly or contesting primaries for the selection of parliamentary candidates, are hereby requested, in their own interest, to resign from the Ghana Civil Service before they engage in such activities”, it said.

The Head of the Civil Service, Dr Alex Glover-Quartey, who gave the directive in an interview, said by virtue of the traditional role of the Civil Service to serve the government of the day loyally and to maintain the confidence of any future administration, civil servants are not to engage in partisan politics.

According to him, information reaching his office indicates that some civil servants are engaged in active politics, to the extent that some are currently contesting primaries in all parts of the country and queried, “How can people have confidence in you if you do that”?

He said even if a civil servant was contesting only at the primary, he should resign because he had openly demonstrated his affiliation with a particular political party.

Dr Glover-Quartey reminded all civil servants that the Constitution provides that a civil servant may not accept any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, in any political organisation as well as declare himself or herself openly as a registered member of a political party or association.

He said the Constitution further provides that it was wrong for a civil servant to publicly indicate his support for any political party, candidate or policy, make speeches or join in demonstrations in favour of any political party, among others.

However, he stated that a civil servant was entitled to his views on political matters and if so qualified, may vote at elections.

He, therefore, reminded all civil servants to maintain their political neutrality and impartiality so as to sustain the confidence members of the public had in the Ghana Civil Service.

Dr Glover-Quartey expressed the hope that no civil servant would give cause for the OHCS or the public to doubt his or her loyalty to the government.

body-container-line