Minister of State for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has criticized the former Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration for allegedly bypassing due process in making last-minute public service appointments.
According to him, a review of the appointment process uncovered multiple irregularities, including instances where appointees failed to submit formal application letters to their respective institutions. He also alleged that some individuals were recruited without undergoing interviews or completing mandatory medical examinations.
Kwakye Ofosu argued that these lapses raise serious legal concerns and impose an unnecessary financial burden on the current government.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on February 11, he recalled that, on December 17, he had warned—on behalf of the NDC transition team—that such appointments would be revoked upon the new government’s assumption of office.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to due process, he stated that public service appointments must follow established recruitment procedures.
His remarks come in response to the recent directive by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, revoking all public service appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024. A confidential letter, seen by Citi News, has been sent to all heads of government institutions, instructing them to comply with the directive.
“Some government agencies, ministries, and institutions were feverishly employing people in the dying embers of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. We expressed concern about this because we knew it was going to have an impact on our fiscal position, especially at a time when the country was struggling.
“We have looked into the matter and found that due process was bypassed in the appointments that were made. Some didn’t put in any application at all, others didn’t go through interviews, and some who should have gone through medical examinations didn’t go through.
“In some cases, the appointment letters were backdated, except that when you look into the payroll, you will not find that they have received any payment at all since they were employed. To that extent, we deem them unlawful and illegal. And as a government, we cannot afford a situation where people are illegally recruited into the public and civil service without due process,” he stated.
