40 dismissed public sector workers sue government
By DL News
Published
1 min read
These individuals, who were employed in 2024, contend that their dismissals violated their constitutional rights and did not follow due process.
Forty former public sector employees have initiated legal proceedings against the government, alleging unjust and politically influenced terminations.
These individuals, who were employed in 2024, contend that their dismissals violated their constitutional rights and did not follow due process. The terminations were reportedly based on a directive dated February 10, 2025, issued by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah. The directive instructed public institutions to cancel appointments made after December 7, 2024—the day Ghana held its presidential and parliamentary elections.
Government officials have defended the decision, claiming it was a measure to promote responsible governance. They argued that the outgoing NPP administration had made inappropriate last-minute appointments, which the current leadership deemed irregular.
The plaintiffs, represented by Dame and Partners, have filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General and six key state institutions. These include the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Lottery Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Shippers Council, and the National Health Insurance Authority.
In their legal challenge, the former employees argue that neither the President nor the Chief of Staff holds the authority to terminate public service appointments outside the boundaries set by Article 191(b) of the Constitution.
They are asking the court to declare the terminations unlawful, revoke the Chief of Staff’s directive, reinstate them to their previous positions, and award damages for the distress and financial losses they’ve suffered. Additionally, they are seeking a court order to prevent future politically motivated dismissals in the public service.
Some of the affected individuals maintain that they went through rigorous hiring processes—including competitive exams and interviews—and had already secured their positions before the December 7 cutoff. Yet, they were still removed under the contested directive.
