The Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), Isaac Bampoe Addo, says the association will “strongly resist” any partisan appointments in the civil service with the coming into office of a new government, beginning January 7, 2025.

He has therefore urged the incoming government to uphold the principle of neutrality within the civil service and avoid interfering with the roles of civil servants.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) reports that in an interaction with journalists at a Thanksgiving Service organised by CLOGSAG in Accra, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo warned that the association would use “workers’ power” to oppose any actions that compromise the positions of civil servants.

“There is a Supreme Court decision that says that no civil servant must owe his appointment to partisan activities.

“We want to believe that the incoming government will adhere to the Supreme Court ruling and ensure that politicians are not appointed to encumber civil service institutions,” he said.

The CLOGSAG Executive Secretary also expressed concern about the “winner takes all” principle that allowed the President unfettered powers in the appointment of all public officers.

“Indeed, it is time for us to evaluate the democracy that has characterised the governance under the 4th Republic to ascertain whether this type of governance is helping us to develop as a country,” Mr Addo said.

He stated that the country’s failure to effectively address the illegal mining problem highlighted the weakness of Ghana’s decentralisation structures.

He said that the battle against illegal mining should not be centralised, urging that District Assemblies take the lead in tackling the issue.

According to him, local authorities are better equipped to understand the challenges and implement sustainable solutions.

Delivering his New Year Message to members of CLOGSAG, Mr Addo said the year had been commendable despite the Association’s inability to achieve its goal of getting a Unique Salary Structure and other conditions of service.

He said negotiations for a new salary structure were ongoing and assured members that their request “will see the light of day.”