The Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has stressed that their members would only resume work at the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly after a stakeholders' dialogue has been converged.

This is aimed at finding an amicable solution to attacks on local government workers in the municipality to ensure their safety.

This follows a strike action that took effect on Wednesday, 29th January 2025, following attacks on some field officers of the Akatsi Municipal Assembly.

Routine field work for two staff of the physical planning department of the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly turned bloody when some residents attacked them on January 17, 2025.

The Akatsi South Municipal Chairman of the CLOGSAG, David Okonkwo Larrtey said his colleagues were attacked when they visited a property under development in Akatsi, to inquire if they had acquired the necessary clearance documents.

He added that the staff were again beaten when they were escorted to the site by five policemen after reporting the first incident.

“The two officers went to the police station to report the issue. So, we were told that about five police officers were detailed to accompany them to the site. Upon getting there, the owner of the site organised a mob and beat them up again right in the presence of the police. The police looked on unconcerned. So, they had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention”, he said.

Learning of the resident's hostility to local government workers, the National Executives of CLOGSAG declared a strike action for members in the Akatsi South Municipality.

“This is not the first time this inappropriate act has been meted out to the staff of the Municipal Assembly. While the perpetrators have not been apprehended and the local authorities, including traditional leaders, police command, and opinion leaders have remained silent, there is no indication that the situation would be congenial for normal work to continue.

“Indeed, the safety of workers at Akatsi Municipal Assembly is threatened. Under these circumstances, the Association is calling on all CLOGSAG members at Akatsi South Municipal to stay at home as their safety at work cannot be guaranteed”, stated a communique signed by the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo.

The Volta Regional Secretary of CLOGSAG, Ernest Sakyi lamented the unfortunate development, with emphasis on how the police handled the case, and the growing disorder in the municipality.

“It seems the police are scared to take certain actions in Akatsi Municipal per se. The whole place is becoming lawless", he said.

He stressed that operations of the local government agencies will be on hold in the Akatsi South Municipality until a stakeholder's engagement is convened to resolve the issue and ensure the perpetrators are duly punished.