The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has condemned the government’s directive to revoke all public sector appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024, describing it as unfair and harmful to young professionals.
The directive, issued by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah on February 10, 2025, instructed all heads of government institutions to annul appointments made after the stated date, arguing that such recruitments were not in line with good governance practices.
However, the TUC in its statement signed by the General Secretary, Joshua Ansah, raised concerns over the mass termination of workers, including those who had been on contract for several years before their appointments were regularised in December 2024.
The union described the move as heartbreaking and a serious threat to job security, particularly for young professionals entering the workforce for the first time.
“We find the directive by the Chief of Staff very problematic, to say the least. Not only is his directive open to abuse but we find it extremely difficult to understand how the Government could describe all appointments or recruitments made after December 7, 2024, as not in compliance with good governance practices and principles.
“The issue of midnight appointments/recruitments has been a recurring practice that has alternated between the NDC and NPP. Statements from both the NPP and NDC on this matter demonstrate their insincerity and inconsistency in their pronouncements and policies,” part of the TUC statement read.
The union called on President John Dramani Mahama to halt the mass terminations, arguing that revoking the appointments of teachers, nurses, and other professionals who have already struggled to secure employment could have devastating socio-economic consequences.
The TUC urged the president to follow the same amnesty approach granted to security agency recruits and extend it to all affected public sector employees.
“The TUC calls on H.E. John Dramani Mahama to stop the ongoing terminations of appointments in the Public Service. The mass termination of employment of teachers, nurses, and others, who have been educated at great cost to their families and the nation and who may have stayed at home for years struggling to obtain employment can be devastating for these young men and women. It is a blot on our democratic credentials. It can also completely sap the patriotism of these young men and women,” the congress added.
