Association expresses concern about politicisation of public service

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has observed that politicisation of the civil and local government services is negatively affecting the effectiveness and productivity of workers.

A statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the association, Mr Isaac Bampo Addo, and copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua said, “Instead of the government giving opportunity to all staff based on experience and technical competence, it rather tends to be choosy and mostly relies on political followers and those who pay lip-service to it [the government].”

According to the statement, the sort of multi-party democracy being practised in the country is discriminatory and breaches the 1992 Constitution, “since after elections the party in power forgets that the government is for all”.

It expressed worry that the politicisation of the civil and local government services was creating undue tension and polarising the various offices.

The statement alleged that political heads had usurped both administrative and political powers and assigned positions, transferred, suspended and dismissed staff without recourse to laid-down procedures and norms.

It said politicisation was gradually grinding vital state institutions to a halt.

“The government machinery at both the central and local levels are not being properly fuelled to support the growth of the economy, whereas more resources are being channelled into newly created institutions or bodies that are mere replications.”

The statement, therefore, called for a greater attention to improve the performance of the civil and local government services.

It said every worker should be given the opportunity to contribute his or her quota to achieving the objectives of the services without hindrance. - GNA