The Minority Caucus in Parliament has condemned the dismissal of over 100 employees of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), labelling it as unlawful and a moral crisis.
At a press briefing held at Parliament House, the Member of Parliament for Savelugu, Hon. Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, who led the Minority’s address, stated that the termination of appointments was done without proper justification, consultation, or adherence to due process, thereby violating the Constitution, labour laws, and fundamental human rights.
Hon. Abdul Aziz revealed that the dismissals were purportedly based on a directive issued by the Chief of Staff on February 11, 2025, which instructed public sector institutions to revoke appointments made after December 7, 2024. The Minority, however, argued that this directive holds no legal authority.
Also Read: Parliament approves Mahama’s Supreme Court nominees as Minority bristles with anger over decision
“No such directive has legal force. Institutions must not act on political whims,” she asserted, pointing to Articles 23 and 24 of the 1992 Constitution and Sections 64 and 65 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) as pieces of legislation that have been contravened.
The Minority also challenged the BoG’s claim that some of the dismissals were carried out under the guise of “dismissals during probation.” Hon. Abdul Aziz clarified that probation periods do not grant institutions the right to dismiss employees arbitrarily and must be supported by documented performance assessments.
The caucus expressed deep concern over the BoG’s decision to proceed with the dismissals despite a pending motion in Parliament for a full inquiry into the matter. Hon. Abdul Aziz described this action as a disregard for parliamentary oversight and democratic principles.
The Minority issued a set of urgent demands, including the immediate reinstatement of all affected employees, the appearance of the BoG Governor before Parliament to provide accountability, and the swift intervention of the Chief Labour Officer, the National Labour Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). They also pledged their support for any legal action taken by the dismissed workers under Article 33 of the Constitution and called for a comprehensive parliamentary inquiry into the issue.
“This is about the soul of our Republic. We must choose between rule of law and rule by decree. Parliament must stand firm,” Hon. Fatahiya emphasized.
The Minority assured the dismissed BoG staff of their unwavering support, stating, “You are not forgotten. Your pain is our pain. Your fight is our fight. The Minority in Parliament stands with you, heart and soul.”