-In Just Two Months

Contrary to his campaign promise to create jobs for the teeming unemployed population, it has emerged that President Akufo-Addo and his government has instead; sacked 23000 Ghanaian workers in its first two months in office.

The unprecedented job loss was as a result of the Akufo-Addo government’s vow to cancel all appointments and clearance for employment by the erstwhile Mahama administration (it) government described as “last minute”.

This was revealed by NDC Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during debate in Parliament on President Akufo-Addo’s maiden State of the Nation Address.

The Akufo-Addo government in February this year sacked 205 workers at the National Service Scheme who were employed in December 2016 by the Mahama administration with the excuse that their recruitments did not follow due process.

Government also dismissed 525 officials at the National Security alleging they were members of NDC, and 206 police recruits for allegedly using forged certificates.

This exercise was extended to the health sector where government cancelled clearance given last year by the Mahama administration for the recruitment of 8600 nurses by the Ghana Health Service.

A similar exercise was undertaken at other state agencies including COCOBOD leading to the dismissal of several employees engaged by the erstwhile administration.
Job creation was one of the major campaign promises of then candidate Akufo-Addo and his running-mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Interestingly, during his maiden sessional address, the President reiterated his commitment to create jobs even though his government has embarked on mass dismissals in the public sector.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo bemoaned the high rate of unemployment and bad state of the economy left behind by the Maham/NDC government.

He pledged his commitment to solving the problems his government inherited to improve the general well-being of Ghanaians.

But Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa said the President must back his words with deeds by removing the ban imposed on recruitment and also reversing the decision of government’s transition team to lay off employees engaged by the Mahama administration.

He said the phenomenon where people were relieved of their duties and others prevented from reporting to work amounts to job substitution and not job creation.

“Mr Speaker, the point I was making was that 22,802 Ghanaians could have been employed. Two months down the line this suspension order that came from the transition team is still enforced and these 22,802 people are still at home and yet the President comes here and laments, and bemoans and appears to be sympathizing with the youth of our country who are unemployed,” Hon Okudzeto noted.