Unlawful dismissals: 40 former public workers sue gov’t 

Forty ex-public sector employees have taken legal action against the government.

The aggrieved group is accusing it of wrongful and politically motivated terminations.

The workers, hired in 2024, claim their dismissals breached constitutional rights and due process.

The firings followed a February 10, 2025, directive from Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, instructing public institutions to nullify appointments made after December 7, 2024—the date of Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

The government defended the move as necessary to ensure good governance, alleging that last-minute appointments under the former NPP administration were improper.

Represented by Dame and Partners, a law firm associated with ex-Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, the plaintiffs are suing the Attorney General and six state agencies: the Ghana Revenue Authority, National Lottery Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Shippers Council, and National Health Insurance Authority.

The workers argue that neither the President nor the Chief of Staff has the constitutional power to dismiss public servants outside the conditions specified in Article 191(b).

They seek a court declaration that their terminations were illegal, the nullification of the Chief of Staff’s directive, reinstatement, and compensation for undue hardship.

They also demand an injunction against further politically driven civil service purges.

Many affected employees say they underwent strict hiring processes, including tests and interviews, before securing their roles. Some insist they were employed before December 7 but were still dismissed under the directive.