Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed deep concern over what he describes as undemocratic actions by the President John Mahama led governmentIn a strongly worded statement shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, February 20, 2025, Dr. Bawumia criticized the mass dismissal of public servants employed during the previous administration, as well as recent attacks on journalists and former government officials.

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Dr. Bawumia revealed that he had made a personal commitment to refrain from commenting on governance issues to give the new administration the space to settle and implement its policies. However, he now feels compelled to speak out due to recent developments that he believes threaten Ghana’s democracy.

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According to him, the dismissal of individuals who were legally employed under the previous government contradicts the campaign promises of the ruling party, which assured Ghanaians of job creation. He noted that rather than terminating appointments, the government should be focused on creating more employment opportunities.

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“It is ironic that a party which campaigned on the wings of jobs for all Ghanaians is arbitrarily dismissing the same Ghanaians, rendering them jobless, just because a different government employed them,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

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He expressed particular concern over the dismissal of directors in public service, stressing that these individuals are professionals and not political figures. He described it as unfortunate that highly qualified individuals are being removed from their positions simply because they are related to or associated with members of the previous government.

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Beyond the job dismissals, Dr. Bawumia highlighted increasing attacks on journalists, the use of the military to raid the homes of former government officials, and mob actions against innocent individuals and state institutions. He likened these developments to a military takeover rather than a peaceful democratic transition.

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“These are certainly worrying times for our democracy, and the earlier action is taken to protect institutions and democratic practice, the better it would be for Ghana’s forward march,” he cautioned.

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Dr. Bawumia urged President Mahama to be a leader for all Ghanaians and to put an end to these actions. He called on the government to reverse the mass dismissals and ensure that democratic principles are upheld.

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“We must advance our democracy. We must protect our state institutions. We must uphold our Constitution. Ghana can do better. Ghana must do better!” he concluded.

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His statement has since sparked discussions about the state of governance, with many calling on the government to address the concerns raised and ensure that democracy is safeguarded in the country.Meanwhile,  National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, also known as Nana B, has filed a lawsuit against the government of Ghana over the mass dismissal of public sector employees. 

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He argues that the directive issued by the Chief of Staff on February 10, 2025, to annul all appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024, is unconstitutional2. He claims that the Chief of Staff lacks the authority to issue such a directive and that it violates Article 191(b) of the 1992 Constitution, which protects public service employees from dismissal without just cause.

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