Old Tafo MP petitions ILO ‘politically-motivated' sacking of public workers
In his petition, the MP alleges that the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is orchestrating dismissals across the civil and public service, bypassing lawful procedures and replacing affected staff with politically aligned individuals through non-transparent recruitment processes.
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Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, has filed a formal petition with the International Labour Organization (ILO), raising alarm over what he describes as a politically motivated purge of public sector workers perceived to be affiliated with the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
In his petition, the MP alleges that the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is orchestrating dismissals across the civil and public service, bypassing lawful procedures and replacing affected staff with politically aligned individuals through non-transparent recruitment processes.
Assafuah contends that these actions violate both the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) and Ghana’s Civil Service regulations, warning that over 12,000 workers, many of whom were employed in the months leading up to the 2024 general elections, now face job insecurity.
Government officials have justified the terminations by citing irregularities in the hiring process, including fraudulent documentation and procedural lapses—but Assafuah maintains that these explanations are politically charged and discriminatory.
His petition calls out Labour and Employment Minister Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, who recently assumed the role of Co-Chair for the ILO Global Summit on Fair Recruitment, describing the role as incompatible with the domestic situation.
Assafuah’s grievances are outlined as follows:
Targeted dismissals of perceived NPP sympathizers
Absence of due process in the termination of employment
Partisan recruitment replacing dismissed workers
Violation of political neutrality within the public service
The petition requests the ILO to:
Launch an independent inquiry into the wave of dismissals.
Issue a public statement condemning politically motivated terminations.
Facilitate engagement with Ghanaian authorities under ILO Convention 111.
Provide technical support to promote fair and merit-based public sector recruitment.
The MP’s move adds to rising legal and civic pressure, including judicial review applications filed by at least 40 affected employees seeking reinstatement.
