Dr. John Osae Kwapong, Fellow at CDD-Ghana and Director of the Democracy Project, has advised the Minority in Parliament to approach the recent dismissals at the Bank of Ghana (BoG) with a more nuanced perspective, urging them to avoid lumping the issue together with politically motivated public sector terminations.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr. Kwapong addressed concerns raised by the Minority following the termination of over 100 BoG employees. In a press conference held on June 24, the Minority described the dismissals as unconstitutional, unlawful, and procedurally flawed, suggesting they were part of a broader political agenda targeting public sector workers hired after the 2024 general elections.
According to the opposition, the affected employees had gone through all necessary recruitment procedures, had been fully vetted, and were already making valuable contributions to national development. They cited a directive issued by the Chief of Staff on February 11, 2025, which called for the cancellation of all public sector appointments made after December 7, 2024.
“The directive is entirely unconstitutional and without legal merit,” the Minority stated. “Public institutions should not be instruments for political purges.”
However, Dr. Kwapong urged a more careful reading of the BoG case, pointing out that available information does not link the dismissals to the Chief of Staff’s directive. “From the reports I’ve reviewed, the Bank of Ghana’s decision appears to be based on internal human resource processes,” he explained. “Specifically, it relates to the end of a six-month probationary period, during which the bank determined that the affected individuals did not meet the required performance standards.”
He stressed that such cases should be distinguished from politically motivated dismissals. “If this is indeed a matter of probation and performance evaluation, it should not be framed as a political act,” he said. “The Minority must be cautious not to conflate legitimate HR decisions with broader concerns about unconstitutional terminations.”
Dr. Kwapong concluded by emphasizing the importance of context in public discourse, noting that while political interference in public service is a legitimate concern, each case should be assessed based on its specific facts. “Treating every dismissal as political undermines the seriousness of actual politically driven firings,” he warned.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem