The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has addressed the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana’s (CLOGSAG) threat to embark on a nationwide strike over the appointment of the Registrar of Births and Deaths, describing their concerns as legally unfounded.
Addressing pressmen at the presidency in Accra on Wednesday, February 19, Mr. Ofosu said the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as the Registrar was done in full compliance with the 1992 Constitution and the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027)
“The President acted within his constitutional mandate. Section 2 of Act 1027 makes it clear that the President, in accordance with Article 195 of the Constitution, has the authority to appoint the Registrar of Births and Deaths. There is no legal basis for CLOGSAG’s demand for his removal,” Mr. Ofosu stated.
He further explained that Article 195 of the constitution grants the President the power to make appointments within the public service, with provisions for delegation when necessary.
According to the Minister, Mr. Botchway meets all the criteria outlined in the law, including relevant academic qualifications and extensive public service experience.
“CLOGSAG has not questioned his competence, only alleging that he is politically exposed. However, there is no provision in the law that stipulates the position must be held by a civil servant. Previous registrars may have been civil servants, but that does not establish a legal requirement,” he added.
Mr. Ofosu reiterated the government’s commitment to dialogue with organised labour and ensuring the welfare of workers.
However, he criticised the decision by CLOGSAG to declare a strike, arguing that such action is unjustified and detrimental to public service delivery.
“The people of Ghana, who pay the wages of all public servants, should not be made to suffer due to demands that are not backed by law. We remain open to discussions, but the law must be respected,” he asserted.
CLOGSAG has announced that its strike, set to begin on Thursday, February 20, is in response to the government’s failure to remove Mr. Botchway from office, despite alleged previous assurances.
However, the government is firmly standing by the legality of the appointment. The minister appealed to the association to reconsider its decision, adding that the government had done nothing wrong in the appointment of the current Births and Deaths Registrar.
