Government has dismissed threats by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) to strike over the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as Registrar of Births and Deaths. The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, described CLOGSAG's concerns as "baseless and legally unfounded" during a press briefing on Wednesday, February 19th.
Mr. Ofosu asserted that President Nana Akufo-Addo acted within his constitutional rights, citing Section 2 of Act 1027 (Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020) and Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution. He emphasized that the President has the authority to appoint the Registrar, and Mr. Botchway's appointment fully complies with these legal frameworks. The Minister further clarified that while previous registrars may have been civil servants, there's no legal requirement mandating this.
CLOGSAG's concerns reportedly center on Mr. Botchway's alleged political exposure. However, Mr. Ofosu countered that CLOGSAG hasn't challenged Mr. Botchway's competence, and no legal provision bars politically exposed individuals from holding the position. He highlighted Mr. Botchway's qualifications and extensive public service experience as meeting all legal criteria.
Despite dismissing CLOGSAG's claims, Mr. Ofosu reiterated the government's commitment to dialogue with organized labor and ensuring workers' welfare. He criticized CLOGSAG's decision to proceed with a nationwide strike, scheduled for Thursday, February 20th, calling it unjustified and detrimental to public service delivery. He appealed to the association to reconsider, emphasizing the importance of respecting the law and avoiding disruption to services paid for by Ghanaian taxpayers.
CLOGSAG maintains its stance, citing alleged broken assurances from the government regarding Mr. Botchway's removal. The government, however, remains steadfast in its defense of the appointment's legality. The situation remains tense, with the potential for significant disruption to public services if the strike proceeds as planned. The government's commitment to dialogue offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution, but the immediate future remains uncertain.
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