Dr Tanko Rashid Computer, Acting CEO GIFEC
The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), an implementing Agency of the Ministry of Communications, has terminated the appointment of 16 staff, some of whom have worked at the organisation for the past eight years.
The victims of the government action are Alhaji Faisal Issahaku Gbanjili, Director Administration and HR; Michael Abogoro, Senior Manager & Head of Procurement; Nana Asare Boadu, Senior Manager, Finance and Abena Afriyie Nyanawede, Procurement Manager.
Others are Akwesi Apraku, Assistant Manager, Finance; Hansel Adu Ntiamoah, Regional Manager, Greater Accra; Haruna Gurundo, Regional Manager, Upper East; Siibu Bajogu Jakali, Regional Manager, Upper West; Abdul Bassit Mohammed Awal, Regional Manager, Ahafo Region; and Laudina Doris Acquaye, Assistant Manager Sustainability and Partnerships.
The rest are Emmanuel Sefah, Assistant Manager, Stores; Yaw Barfi Afriyie, Assistant Manager, Finance; Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Head of Stores; Simon Boateng, Driver; George Patterson Donkor, Driver and Mohammed Bashiru Yakubu, Assistant Manager, Procurement.
It would be recalled that some staff of the National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP) were also instructed by the management of NEIP to vacate their posts on February 21, 2025, citing unresolved employment and legal issues.
But for the swift intervention of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), many teachers, security personnel, nurses, among other civil servants would have been sacked because they were hired under the NPP Government.
The Minority in Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, are among people who insisted that the dismissals are unconstitutional, while the government argued that many of the recruitments were irregular and aimed at increasing public sector wages.
The NPP, in a response, at a press conference vowed to seek legal redress on the matter, asking the government to produce evidence of irregularities cited in the recruitment processes.
Kingsley Amoakwa Boadu, a member of the NPP Legal Directorate who refuted claims that individuals employed after the December 7 elections were illegally recruited, said those whose appointment were terminated are civil servants who have gone through due processes, including interviews and certificate verification by the Public Services Commission.
Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in a statement also accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of arbitrarily terminating the employment of public servants hired under the previous government, although it pledged to create more jobs for Ghanaians.
“The least a party that campaigned on jobs could do under conditions of unemployment is to also innovate and create jobs rather than dismiss people,” he said.
This latest termination is connected to the series being witnessed in the public sector and took effect when the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, made good the President’s directive to do so.
The Chief of Staff, in a letter in February 2025, directed the annulment of all public sector appointments and recruitment made after December 7, 2024, citing non-compliance with good governance practices and principles.
The letter stated, “Consistent with government pronouncements in relation to near end-of-tenure appointments and recruitment, I wish to bring to your attention that all appointments and recruitment made in the Public Services of Ghana after 7th December 2024, are not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles.”
Heads of government institutions were instructed to take immediate steps to annul these appointments and submit a comprehensive report on actions taken to the Office of the Chief of Staff by February 17, 2025.
It has emerged however that, in some establishments as in the case of the Ghana Water Company Limited, appointees engaged in November were ordered to leave.
One of the affected seniors at GIFEC, Alhaji Faisal Issahaku Gbanjili, DAILY GUIDE has learnt, was employed through a Public Service Commission standard procedure and his employment confirmed by having worked at the agency for eight years with a clean record.
Correspondence received by one of the sacked staff dated March 11, 2025 and signed by Mr. Alexander Yaw Arphul, Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications reads, “I write to inform you that pursuant to the directive from the Chief of Staff on reversal of appointments and administrative decisions taken post December 7, 2024, the Minister For Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations has revoked your confirmation dated December 12, 2024.”
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah