Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to uphold his own promise to Ghanaians to be a President for all, by reversing the recent mass dismissals of “legitimately employed” Ghanaians from the public sector.
The Mahama government, through a directive by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has ordered the revocation of employment of Ghanaians by the previous government, with immediate effect.
The development has attracted widespread criticism, and the former Vice President has added his voice, calling on President Mahama to protect those affected by halting the mass dismissals.
Writing on his Facebook page on Wednesday night, Dr. Bawumia said he had made a personal vow to allow the new government time to settle down and continue with the development of the country, but he could not watch without commenting, when the rights of Ghanaians, who have been employed to serve the country, were being trampled upon.
“To look away whilst these ills persist is to abandon my responsibility to remind President Mahama and his government of the overriding duty to live by the democratic tenets envisioned in the 1992 Constitution and do justice and right to all manner of persons,” Dr. Bawumia said.
He thus called on President Mahama to reverse the dismissals of Ghanaians employed after the December 7, 2024 elections.
“It is ironic that a party which campaigned on the wings of jobs for all Ghanaians is arbitrarily dismissing the same Ghanaians, rendering them jobless, just because a different government employed them to put their talents to bear on the nation’s development and earn income to cater for themselves and their families,” he said, adding, “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.”
Dr. Bawumia further criticised the government’s decision to dismiss public service directors who are non-political appointees, stating that their only offense appeared to be their association or relation to politicians.
He also raised concerns over reports of planned terminations of security personnel, nurses, and teachers appointed under the previous government, describing such actions as detrimental to national progress.
Insecurity
Dr. Bawumia also lamented the growing atmosphere of insecurity, pointing to attacks on journalists, military raids on the homes of former government officials, and mob violence targeting individuals and state institutions.
“These are certainly worrying times for our democracy, and the earlier action is taken to protect institutions and democratic practice, the better it would be for Ghana’s forward match,” he cautioned.
Calling on President Mahama to be a leader for all Ghanaians, he urged him to put a stop to the dismissals and ensure that all citizens are treated fairly and protected under the law.
“There is no reset by repeating or escalating what may have happened in the past. Therefore, I call on His Excellency President Mahama to be a president for all Ghanaians by putting a stop to these developments, reversing the unfair dismissals, and protecting all our citizens,” he said.
A Daily Guide Report