Civil Servants in active politics will be dismissed

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - Dr Alex Glover-Quartey, Head of Civil Service on Friday reiterated that Civil Servants, who did not resign their positions but engaged in active partisan politics, would be dismissed from the Service.

"The Constitution bars Civil Servants from engaging in active partisan politics and those who are contesting for parliamentary seats but did not resign from their positions as Civil Servants are contravening the basic law of the land," he stressed.

Addressing a three-day retreat for Directors and Heads of Departments of the Civil Service on Public Sector Reforms, which opened at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, Dr Glover-Quartey said those, who did not resign before playing active politics would be sacked.

"Civil Servants, who are desirous of taking part in active political activity are to resign before doing so. If they don't, we will be compelled to dismiss them," he said.

The retreat is aimed at enabling the leadership of the Service to make input into the Public Sector Reforms to make it efficient, proactive and customer-focused.

It is also to create a platform for the top leadership of the Service to make its views and opinions known for inputs to shape the Service.

Dr Glover-Quartey said information reaching his office indicated that some Civil Servants were contesting primaries of some political parties without first resigning their positions.

"I have, therefore, signed another circular reminding Civil Servants that are desirous of taking part in active political activity to resign before doing so."

He reminded the Directors about the need to establish a link between enhanced remuneration and improved performance.

"As we seek to see our conditions of service improved, there must be a corresponding change in our ability to perform to the satisfaction of our clients and the public at large," Dr Glover-Quartey said.

Mr J. H. Mensah, the Senior Minister, said the Government had set up a Committee to look at the existing pension scheme and the grievances of Civil Servants and would recommend appropriate measures to address the situation holistically.