Member of Parliament for Old Tafo constituency, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over what he describes as unfair dismissal of some public servants perceived to be sympathisers of the erstwhile NPP administration.

The MP claims the government of the National Democratic Congress has targeted public servants and contract staff for their dismissal without due process or justification, disregarding their competence.

His document of claim insists these actions, including the replacement of dismissed staff with partisan loyalists tag, violate Ghana’s Labour Act 2003 and Civil Service regulations.

Some Ghanaian public workers who were hired shortly before the 2024 election that led to change in government were left without jobs following what the government assessed as employment irregularities, such as false documents and improper hiring practices.

Currently, the fate of over 12,000 public service workers hangs in the balance as the government establishes legitimate procedures for their appointments.

Forty such former workers in various public entities filed applications for judicial review aimed at their reinstatement.

Member of Parliament for Old Tafo constituency, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, in an official document petitioning the International Labour Organisation, acquired by Joynews, accuses Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, of breaching both domestic and international labour standards.

“This situation is made even more concerning by the recent appointment of Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, a Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, as Co-Chair of the Global ILO Summit on Fair Recruitment. His role contradicts the domestic realities facing many public servants in Ghana today. These politically motivated dismissals violate both Ghanaian and international labour standards.

The actions observed include:

1. Targeted Terminations of civil/public servants and contract staff perceived to be NPP-affiliated.
2. Lack of Due Process in dismissals, including the absence of hearings or formal reviews.
3. Replacement of dismissed staff with partisan loyalists without transparent recruitment processes.
4. Violation of the political neutrality expected within Ghana's public service under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) and Civil Service regulations,” the petition reads.

The petition is urging the International Labour Organization to establish an enquiry into the government’s action and instill due process.

Vincent Ekow Assafuah urged the ILO to:

1. Initiate an independent inquiry into the recent wave of dismissals in Ghana's public sector.
2. Issue a public statement addressing these developments and call for a halt to politically motivated terminations.
3. Engage Ghanaian authorities in dialogue under the framework of Convention 111 and relevant ILO principles.
4. Provide technical support and guidance to help restore politically neutral, merit-based recruitment systems within the public sector.

“I believe in Ghana’s democratic values and international commitments, and I am committed to protecting the rights of every Ghanaian worker. I appeal to the ILO to act swiftly to address these injustices and ensure that fair recruitment practices are truly upheld in Ghana,” the petition read.

Read full details of the petition here: