The Mahama administration has revoked 541 public sector recruitments, appointments and promotions carried out in the final days of the Akufo-Addo government, following the recommendations of a presidential review committee.

Announcing the outcome at a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the committee found that hundreds of the processes failed to meet the required standards.

“The committee recommended however that the recruitments, appointments and promotions of five hundred and forty one (541) persons be revoked, because the recruitment processes ended after 7th December 2024 and failed to meet the pass mark. They also did not comply with processes and guidelines, slated or dsesigned to govern that process,” Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu indicated.

The review was triggered by concerns over a surge in hiring activity after the December 7, 2024 general elections. A presidential committee was subsequently set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the appointments.

According to the spokesperson, 2,080 recruitments, appointments and promotions were reported by institutions when they appeared before the committee. Out of that number, 879 had already been revoked by the institutions themselves, while 1,201 were initially left unrevoked.

He explained that after the hearings, the committee recommended that 1,539 of the recruitments, appointments and promotions be upheld because they complied with the prescribed recruitment and promotion procedures and received appointment letters before December 7, 2024.

In addition, 13 institutions revoked appointments in response to the December 7 directive, while 17 others sought guidance from the Office of the President instead of taking immediate action. Sixteen of the cases presented to the committee were mainly payroll-related issues.

Government officials maintain that the exercise was intended to ensure due process and adherence to established recruitment procedures within the public service, rather than serve as a politically motivated purge.

Kwakye Ofosu criticised the Akufo-Addo administration, accusing it of knowingly pushing through non-compliant appointments and dismissing the incoming government's calls for consultation.

"The previous government was fully aware that basic requirements were not met in those cases and still went ahead to sanction them," he said, adding that the exercise was carried out "without malice or ill-feeling towards anyone" and was "a necessary step to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability."

President John Dramani Mahama rolled out a new Code of Conduct tailored for political appointees, reinforcing his administration’s focus on ethical leadership and transparent governance.

The code, officially launched on Monday, May 5, 2025, formed a key component of the government’s reforms to instill accountability and uphold high standards of public service across all levels of executive authority.

Designed to cover a wide array of appointees, the code’s definition of “Minister” includes not only cabinet-level officials but also deputy ministers, presidential staffers, CEOs and their deputies in public institutions, members of the Council of State, and other political appointees.

It outlined expected values such as integrity, impartiality, competence, and incorruptibility, and encouraged behavior that can stand up to close public scrutiny.

The publicly available portion of the document detailed procedures for avoiding conflicts of interest, maintaining professional conduct, and preserving the dignity of public office—emphasizing the administration’s commitment to leading by example.

He admonished members of his government to appreciate and uphold the responsibility and expectations that come with being in office.

Speaking at an engagement with the Ghanaian community in Ethiopia on Monday, February 17, 2025, the president also challenged his appointees to live up to the level of public accountability that comes with their positions.

"Those of us in leadership must lead by example; we must be prepared to be held accountable for taking the public trust. As I have told every body, if you accept to serve in the public sector, then you must be prepared to answer to the people because it is the people who put you there; you serve at their pleasure.

"The green letter came with a lot of responsibility and expectation, and I have said that while we hold those who came before us accountable, we should remember that we are also going to be held accountable," the president said.

The president highlighted some key issues for his government, including amending the constitution, stabilizing the economy, and creating job opportunities for the youth.

"So, amending the constitution, holding people accountable for the public trust, and making sure that we stabilize the economy and create opportunities for our young people to work as quickly as possible, is the task ahead of us. We may not be able to complete that process, but at least I am determined that we lay the foundation and put Ghana on the right track," the President said.