NDC backs workers’ concern over special assistants

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament has joined the organised labour in asking the government to stop replacing public sector workers with political assistants.

A statement it issued in Accra yesterday stressed the need for the government to respect the inalienable rights of workers to security of tenure without undue harassment and political intimidation.

“Accordingly, we lend our voice to the demand of organised labour for the government to end the spectre of replacing public sector workers who are in their positions on account of merit with large numbers of political appointees and special assistants thus relegating highly experienced professionals to the background,” the statement signed by the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said.

It was issued in solidarity and to salute the gallant workers of Ghana on the occasion of May Day 2018.

Solidarity

The statement pledged the Minority’s unflinching solidarity for the working people of the country and impressed on the working class that they were partners in the joint struggle to eliminate oppressive working conditions that undermined the dignity of labour and held back the realisation of the full potential of the working class.

It noted that in a number of those cases, workers had either been rendered redundant or lost their jobs completely, exposing them and their families to hardships and misery, and added that the situation was completely unacceptable.

“We wish on this occasion to express our support for the working people in their just demands for the government to make the lives of working people both at their workplaces and homes more tolerable,” it said.

Commendation

The statement commended the hardworking people of Ghana for continuously striving to deliver in very difficult and challenging circumstances.

It urged the workers to continue to give of their best and step up productivity in the supreme interest of the country.

“We wish on this occasion once again to stress the commonality of our links as people on the same social strata and to assure them that we will always stand by them,” it said.

Background

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) last Monday issued a two-week ultimatum to ministers of state, to come clear on the responsibilities of their special assistants, whom CLOSSAG said appeared to have taken over the roles of civil servants.

The association said in its May Day message that was delivered by the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, that many civil servants had been sidelined, while special assistants had taken over their responsibilities, leaving the civil servants in a situation where they were unable to function properly after a change of government or after any ministerial reshuffle.