The nationwide strike declared by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has begun, leading to the closure of offices across various ministries in compliance with the union’s directive.

As the strike took effect on Wednesday morning, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that most offices within the Ministries were shuttered. Only a handful of personnel, primarily security staff, were present in some offices.

A security officer stationed at one of the Ministries confirmed the situation, stating, “Yes, the whole place is locked up. No worker is coming here until they get a directive from CLOGSAG to return to work.”

Explaining his presence despite the strike, a worker in another Ministry cited the inclement weather, remarking, “Once the rains stop, I will go home.”

Among the Ministries affected were the Ministry of Railways Development, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ministry of Works and Housing, Statistical Service, and the CLOGSAG Secretariat.

At the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the main entrance was visibly secured with a padlock, accompanied by a red band hanging on the door. Similar red bands were observed on buildings and trees throughout the Ministries, symbolizing the strike action.

CLOGSAG had announced the strike following a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The association cited the government’s failure to implement a new salary structure that had been agreed upon since January 2023, resulting in a delay of one and a half years.

Accordingly, CLOGSAG instructed its members and secretariats nationwide to refrain from reporting to work until further notice, highlighting their resolve to press for the implementation of the agreed-upon salary adjustments.

The strike action has impacted operations across various government ministries, underscoring the significant stance taken by CLOGSAG in addressing the welfare concerns of its members amidst the delayed salary structure implementation.