Labour Consultant Austin Gamey has condemned the ongoing strike by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), describing it as an abuse of the engagement process.
The strike stems from CLOGSAG’s demand for the removal of Samuel Adom Botchwey as Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry. The association accuses the government of reneging on its promise to reassign him, citing his participation in the Registry’s budget hearing on February 17 as proof that the commitment was not honored.
Despite earlier assurances, CLOGSAG insists that Botchwey’s continued presence erodes trust and accountability.
However, Gamey argues that the strike is counterproductive and disregards proper procedures for resolving labor disputes. He maintains that engagement and dialogue should be prioritized over industrial action.
“There is a laid down procedure in handling concerns that one party may have. CLOGSAG is actually abusing the process and you cannot be talking at the same time you put the other party’s hands behind his back and tie it saying he should talk. This is an old-fashioned approach and nobody should do this in the 21st century,” he stated.
Garmey emphasized the importance of dialogue and the availability of formal channels for dispute resolution.
“They should go and sit down and talk. If both sides cannot talk, that is why we have the Labour Commission. If they can’t go to the commission, they can go to the court. But the strike is adversarial,” he stated.
