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President John Dramani Mahama’s 2017 condemnation of then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for dismissing last-minute appointees has resurfaced, following his own decision to take similar action after returning to power in 2025.
In May 2017, Mahama, then the opposition leader, strongly criticized the newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration for terminating the employment of workers recruited during the final days of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government in 2016. The NPP had argued that the appointments, made between December 9, 2016, and January 7, 2017, were rushed and lacked proper planning. However, Mahama defended the appointments, stating that governance should not halt during the transition period and that he had a mandate to lead until the handover date.
At the time, Mahama took to social media to express his disapproval, tweeting, “These workers are all citizens and, like all Ghanaians, have rights that must be protected.” In another tweet, he stated, “Bad precedent for our governance. Mass sacking of workers by the NPP government is unacceptable.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Mahama, now back in office following the 2024 general elections, has issued a directive to revoke all last-minute appointments made by the outgoing NPP administration. A letter dated February 10, 2025, from the presidency instructed heads of government institutions to annul any appointments or recruitments made after December 7, 2024, citing non-compliance with good governance practices.
The letter stated, “Consistent with government procurement regulations regarding end-of-tenure appointments and recruitments, I wish to bring to your attention that all appointments and recruitments made in the Public Services of Ghana after December 7, 2024, are not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles. Accordingly, all heads of government institutions are hereby requested to take the necessary steps to annul any such appointments or recruitments and submit a comprehensive report on the actions taken to this Office by February 11, 2025.”
The directive has reignited debate on social media, with users circulating Mahama’s 2017 tweets and accusing him of hypocrisy. Critics argue that his current actions contradict his earlier stance, highlighting what they perceive as double standards in governance.
As the controversy unfolds, the resurfaced criticism serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of political transitions, with both sides of the aisle facing scrutiny over their handling of last-minute appointments.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
