Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised President John Mahama for dismissing government employees instead of focusing on job creation.

He called the move a betrayal of democratic principles and campaign promises.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr Bawumia accused Mahama’s administration of arbitrarily terminating the employment of public servants hired under the previous government, despite pledging to create more jobs for Ghanaians.

“The least a party that campaigned on jobs could do under conditions of unemployment is to also innovate and create jobs rather than dismiss people,” Bawumia wrote on Facebook.

Since taking office, Mahama’s government has reportedly dismissed workers across various sectors, including security personnel, nurses, and teachers, solely because they were hired during the tenure of the previous administration, Bawumia alleged.

He described the move as ironic and unjust, stating that even non-political public servants were being targeted for their perceived affiliations.

“In some of the cases, the only reason for dismissal was that the persons whose livelihoods have been destroyed are known to or related to politicians as if to suggest that they cannot live independent professional lives, however qualified they are,” he said.

Dr Bawumia also raised concerns over what he described as a deteriorating security situation in the country, pointing to attacks on journalists, military raids on former government officials’ homes, and violent mob actions against state institutions.

“This is rather reminiscent of a military takeover and not a peaceful democratic transition,” he warned.

The former vice president urged Mahama to reverse the dismissals and govern in the interest of all Ghanaians, insisting that the country should not revert to past political excesses.

“There is no reset by repeating or escalating what may have happened in the past,” he stressed.

Calling for the protection of state institutions and constitutional order, Dr Bawumia declared, “Ghana can do better. Ghana must do better.”