The Mahama administration has made significant changes in the public sector, revoking 541 recruitments, appointments, and promotions made under the previous Akufo-Addo government. This action comes after a thorough review conducted by a presidential committee established to address concerns over a surge of hiring activities after the December 7, 2024, general elections.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu expressed the need for this review, emphasizing that it was a step toward due process rather than a politically motivated action.
In the wake of the NPP’s defeat in the December elections, the prior administration faced criticism for reportedly fast-tracking public sector appointments during the transitional period leading up to the January 7, 2025, inauguration. Critics argue that such practices have become a pattern in Ghana’s political transitions.
The Mahama administration had reached out to the Akufo-Addo government, requesting a joint review of appointments made during this sensitive period, but claimed their efforts went unacknowledged.
Upon taking office, a directive was issued by the Chief of Staff mandating all institutions to revoke any appointments made post-December 7. This directive, however, faced scrutiny for its potential to annul valid, merit-based hires.
To tackle this issue, the presidential committee meticulously examined each case, evaluating appointments from various institutions one by one. Out of the 36 institutions that presented cases to the committee, 28 had initiated their recruitment processes before the elections.
As a result of the Chief of Staff’s directive, 13 institutions voluntarily revoked appointments, while 17 others opted to seek further guidance from the Office of the President.
The committee reviewed a total of 2,080 recruitments, of which 879 had already been annulled by the institutions themselves. The remaining 1,201 cases awaited the committee’s final recommendations.
After a comprehensive evaluation, the committee upheld 1,539 of the 2,080 cases, deeming them compliant with the necessary protocols, as they involved appointments finalized before December 7, 2024, achieving a compliance rate of over 80 percent. Conversely, 541 cases were recommended for revocation due to procedural failures — namely, that their recruitment processes concluded after the December 7 date and did not align with compliance standards.
Interestingly, the 541 revocations were fewer than the 879 already annulled by institutions, as explained by Kwakye Ofosu. He noted that special allowances were made for vulnerable groups, such as individuals with disabilities within the Ghana Education Service, who faced circumstances warranting clemency despite procedural irregularities.
“Although these appointments did not meet the laid-down processes, we recognized the challenges they might face if enforced. Therefore, they were permitted to regularize their appointments to continue in public service,” he stated.
Kwakye Ofosu took the opportunity to criticize the previous administration for pushing through non-compliant appointments and neglecting appeals for collaborative consultation from the incoming government, asserting that the exercise undertaken was crucial to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.
