Stop sacking workers illegally - Sylvester Mensah tells government

The former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mr Sylvester Mensah has cautioned the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to stop the unjustifiable sacking of workers in public institutions across the country.

The indiscriminate dismissal, termination of appointments and “proceed on leave orders” to workers perceived to be sympathizers of the NDC, which began when the NPP assumed power some seven months ago, does not bode well for the peace and security of the country, he observed.

Mr Mensah sounded the caution in his address last Saturday as a guest speaker at the grand durbar of the 63rd Afenorto festival of the Chiefs and people of Mepe in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

He noted that “in the face of limited employment opportunities, the few in gainful employment should not be sacked and replaced with others who are regarded as better Ghanaians by virtue of their political colour.”

He added that what Ghanaians expect from this administration is “a government that is even handed, fair, equitable and responsive to our needs” and “a government that recognizes the significant size of the youth in today’s society and develops action programs to harness their energies, potentials and talents into a productive force for self and nation.”

He thanked the Chiefs and people of the area for the warm invitation extended to him to celebrate the festival with them.

The former La Dadekotopon legislator also used the occasion to commend the chiefs and people of Mepe for the continuous celebration of the Afenorto festival for sixty-three years and also praised them for the successes and progress that they have collectively chalked as a community.

“Festivals offer us unique opportunities to reflect over our contributions to societal progress, to take stock and review our steps into the future. A time to commemorate the struggles of those who have come before us and those who have delivered what we today call our ethnic extraction, our culture, our civilization, indeed our heritage that we hold so dear.”

“With the assembly of our sons and daughters today on their ancestral soil, let us seize the moment to think through and re-paint the image of our desired community, our collective future,” he advised.

He also expressed his gratitude to the people of the area for voting massively for the NDC in the December 2016 elections and assured them of the party’s commitment to develop the area more when it comes back to power.

The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture ,Mr Kofi Dzamesi; deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah; North Tongu Member of Parliament, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; and Korle Klottey MP, Hon Zanetor Rawlings graced the occasion.

The MP for Shai Osudoku, Hon Linda Ocloo; Central Tongu MP, Hon Hottordze Alexander ; Afram Plains South MP, Hon Eric Osei Owusu; Afadjato South MP, Hon. Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay; Afram Plains North MP, Hon Betty Nana Afua Mensah; the North Tongu DCE, Mr Richard Collins Arku and other invited dignitaries also came to show their support

The occasion was chaired by Prof. Joshua Alabi, former vice chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

The Afenorto festival, meaning “Period of Rest at Home”, is celebrated annually to renew the sense of oneness of the Chiefs and people of Mepe. This year’s climax of the celebration brought together thousands of people who thronged the durbar ground after a rich display of culture by the five clans and their chiefs in a procession through the principal streets of the town.