In a bold statement of solidarity, the Minority in Parliament are wearing black outfits today to express their support for the numerous Ghanaian employees who were unjustifiably dismissed by the Mahama-led NDC government.
This move comes as President John Mahama delivers his maiden State of the Nation Address for his second term in office, amidst a sea of white-clad Majority members, dividing the Chamber into a stark black and white.
The mass dismissal of employees by the NDC government, led by John Mahama, has been a contentious issue.
The directive, issued by Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah on February 10, 2025, revoked all public sector appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024, resulting in the termination of thousands of public sector workers, including teachers, nurses and other professionals.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has strongly condemned the government’s directive, describing it as “heartbreaking” and a “serious threat to job security,” particularly for young professionals entering the workforce for the first time.
The TUC has questioned the government’s justification for the revocations, arguing that the directive is “open to abuse” and fails to provide clear reasons for the cancellations.
This controversy has highlighted the long-standing issue of “midnight appointments” made by outgoing administrations.
In 2016, the NPP criticized then-President John Mahama for making last-minute appointments, describing them as “most disappointing and exhibits bad faith.”
However, the NPP has now found itself accused of doing the same thing, with the NDC, condemning the recent revocations as a form of “political vendetta”.
However the NPP didn’t dismiss the employees engaged by the NDC in last minute.
The TUC has called on President Mahama to intervene and stop the ongoing terminations, arguing that the mass dismissal of public sector workers can have devastating consequences for individuals, families, and the nation as a whole.
The union has also urged the President to grant amnesty to all appointments made by the previous administration, citing the example of the amnesty granted to individuals recruited by the the government must prioritize previous administration who are currently undergoing training with the security agencies.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
