Accra: The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has clarified that its ongoing industrial action is not intended to challenge the President's authority in appointing Public Service officials.
According to Ghana News Agency, CLOGSAG issued a statement after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Accra, explaining that the strike was motivated by a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits civil servants from engaging in partisan politics. The Association commenced the industrial action on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in response to the appointment of Mr. Samuel Adom Botchway as Acting Registrar of the Birth and Deaths Registry. CLOGSAG described Mr. Botchway as a 'politically exposed person.'
The statement emphasized, "We wish to state unequivocally that the ongoing strike is not against the authority of the President to appoint officers into the Public Services as enshrined in Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution." Instead, CLOGSAG aims to highlight the Supreme Court ruling that underscores the importance of neutrality, anonymity, professionalism, and permanence within the Civil Service and Local Government Service.
The Association contends that Mr. Botchway's appointment violates the Supreme Court ruling regarding the neutrality of the Civil and Local Government Services. The government has appealed to CLOGSAG to cancel the strike, arguing that it lacks legal justification. "We do not believe that an efficient basis exists to go on strike because it will be unfair to the people of Ghana who pay the wages of all public officers, including members of CLOGSAG," stated Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications.
Despite the government's appeal, CLOGSAG's NEC has urged its members to persist with the strike until Mr. Botchway is removed from his position as Births and Deaths Registrar. This action follows a similar incident in 2022, when CLOGSAG opposed the appointment of Mrs. Henrietta Lamptey as Registrar, arguing that the process contradicted standard practices. The Association subsequently filed a lawsuit at the High Court, challenging the appointment and seeking a declaration that the Births and Deaths Registry is a Civil Service Institution. They also requested that the Head of Civil Service be involved in the appointment of the Registrar as stipulated by law. The Court is yet to deliver its judgment on the matter.
