A recent directive by Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has led to the termination of employment for over 3,000 Ghanaians who were hired into the civil service after the December 7, 2024, elections.
The move has been met with strong opposition from the affected individuals, who claim that the directive is unlawful and lacks due process.
At the forefront of the legal battle is Vincent Ekow Assafuah, a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana, who is representing the dismissed employees.
In a letter to the Attorney General, Assafuah argued that the directive is a clear breach of his clients’ employment contracts, the Constitution, and applicable labour laws.
Ekow Assafuah’s clients are seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the termination of their employment is unlawful, an order reinstating them to their previous positions, and compensation for outstanding salaries and benefits.
They are also seeking damages for breach of contract and legal fees.
The terminated employees are not just fighting for their jobs; they are also challenging the notion that governance is not a continuum.
According to Ekow Assafuah, the majority of his clients were employed prior to the December 7 elections, but were still affected by the directive.
This, he argues, is unacceptable and unlawful.
The case has sparked concerns about the rule of law and the protection of workers’ rights in Ghana.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
