Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former vice president, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to protect all people and undo what he calls the unjust dismissals of Ghanaians working for the previous government.
On Wednesday, February 19, Dr. Bawumia posted on Facebook saying he was deeply concerned by recent events that he feels threaten Ghana’s democracy and call into question the 1992 Constitution’s tenets of justice and fairness.
Dr. Bawumia said that although he had personally promised to give the new government the time it needs to settle and carry out its policies, the worrying pattern of firings that target people who were employed during the previous administration has forced him to speak out.
“Since assuming office, however, the government of President Mahama has pursued a series of actions targeting Ghanaians who were legitimately employed during the previous administration. 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 to put their talents to bear on the nation’s development and earn income to cater for themselves and their families,” he said.
He also expressed disapproval of the government’s decision to fire non-political public service directors, claiming that their main transgression seemed to be their affiliation or connection to politics. Additionally, he expressed alarm about reports of planned layoffs of teachers, nurses, and security guards hired by the previous administration, characterizing such measures as harmful to the advancement of the country.
He voiced concern over attacks on journalists, military raids on the homes of former government officials, and state institutions. He warned that such actions resembled a military coup rather than a genuine democratic transition.
“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 match,” he cautioned.
He urged President Mahama to halt the dismissals and make sure that all citizens are treated equally and have legal protection, calling on him to be a leader for all Ghanaians.
“There is no reset by repeating or escalating what may have happened in the past. Therefore, I call on His Excellency President Mahama to be a president for all Ghanaians by putting a stop to these developments, reversing the unfair dismissals, and protecting all our citizens.”
Dr. Bawumia urged Ghana to improve its efforts to provide justice and fairness for all as he wrapped up his remarks by calling for the protection of state institutions, the progress of democracy, and the observance of the Constitution.
