The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has renewed its opposition to political appointments in the civil service.
According to CLOGSAG, leadership roles in the civil service must be filled through internal promotions and then submitted for presidential approval, rather than through direct political appointments.
Speaking at a forum themed “Guarding the Gate: Labour Unions as Protectors of Service Neutrality,” CLOGSAG’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, asserted the importance of constitutional guidelines in appointing civil service leaders.
“We are all to uphold the constitution of Ghana. And what the constitution is saying is that, yes, the president should appoint, but he should not identify the person. People have been given the responsibility of identifying the right person and then presenting it to him.”
Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo
Accordingly, CLOGSAG reiterated its stance that certain positions within the civil service, such as the Registrar of Births and Deaths, are structured as progressive career roles that should be filled through internal promotions rather than political appointments.
The association emphasized that specific roles within the civil service follow a hierarchical structure where employees advance through the ranks based on experience and merit.
According to Executive Secretary Isaac Bampoe Addo, direct political appointments to such positions bypass this structured process and send the wrong signal to dedicated civil servants.” Everyone in the registration class works with the aspiration of one day becoming the Registrar. That goal serves as their motivation”.
According to Bampoe, when someone is appointed directly to such a position without following the established promotion framework.
He pointed out that it disrupts the system and discourages long-serving employees who have worked their way up the ranks.
CLOGSAG maintained that political appointments in these roles hinder career advancement, compromise institutional integrity, and create the risk of turning the civil service into a tool for political patronage.
The association cautions that if this trend continues, it could weaken confidence in the merit-based system and ultimately impact the effectiveness of public service delivery.
Amidst these concerns, CLOGSAG has been on strike since February 22, 2025, in protest of the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as the new Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry.
The association contends that his appointment violates established procedures and threatens the neutrality of the civil service, reinforcing their call for adherence to due process in public sector appointments.
Defending The Neutrality Of The Civil Service
Furthermore, the Association vowed to resist any attempts to politicize the civil service, reaffirming its commitment to upholding neutrality and ensuring that political interference does not influence appointments.
As such, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo emphasized that this is not just about one appointment but about preserving the integrity of the civil service as a whole.
He warned that continued political interference would erode public confidence in the system and discourage professionalism within the service.
“We have been speaking about this, but in 2025, we will resist any attempt. Because as civil servants, we must ensure that the principles of anonymity, neutrality, and permanence remain enshrined.”
Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo
Consequently, CLOGSAG called on the government to review its approach to civil service appointments and adhere strictly to constitutionally mandated processes to safeguard the integrity of the service.
The association urged policymakers to respect the merit-based system that ensures competent and experienced professionals rise through the ranks.
Meanwhile, Stakeholders within the labor sector also weighed in, urging the government to take immediate steps to address concerns raised by CLOGSAG.
Some labor experts warned that continued disregard for proper appointment procedures could trigger further unrest within the civil service.
CLOGSAG, however, remains firm in its stance and has vowed to continue its industrial action until its concerns are addressed.
The strike has already begun to impact public services, with some government offices experiencing delays due to the absence of civil service staff participating in the protest.
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on the government to see how it will respond to the growing demand for fair and transparent appointments in Ghana’s civil service.
