The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, (CLOGSAG) has reminded its members about the need to remain politically neutral.
According to the Association, it has come to its notice that the recently sworn in Government Appointees of Assemblies include some staff of the Local Government Service.
“It is important to remind ourselves of the Supreme Court ruling on neutrality, which states among others as follows: “Public Officers, which includes Civil Servants, are enjoined to avoid conflict of interest situations in the performance of their official duties” CLOGSAG said in a press release issued by its Executive Secretary, Isaac Bampoe-Addo on Friday, 23rd February 2024.
The Supreme Court had ruled that, “… on a true and proper interpretation of Articles 12(2), 21(1)(a) and (d), 21(3), 35(6), 55(1), (2) and (10) and 284 of the Constitution, a member of the Civil Service or Local Government Service does not have the right to remain a member of the Civil Service or Local Government Service after being sworn in as a member of a District Assembly.” (WRIT NO. 11/16/2016, 14T0 JUNE, 2017).”
CLOGSAG therefore noted that it would not compromise on the public perception of neutrality and urged members “to abide by the Supreme Court Ruling on Neutrality.”
It further stated that “The Government Appointees to the Assemblies who are either Civil Service staff or staff of the Local Government Service should honourably resign or else CLOGSAG will smoke them out.”
“We call on Government to revoke the appointments of the staff of the Civil Service and the Local Government Service who have been sworn in as Assembly members as these appointments are in contravention of the Supreme Court Ruling on Neutrality,” CLOGSAG demanded.