Government urges CLOGSAG to reconsider “unlawful” strike, dismisses journalist attack claims

The government has appealed to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) to reconsider its planned strike over the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry, describing the action as “unlawful.”

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama and Minister of State for Government Communications, made the call during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, February 19.

“We believe that the president has acted correctly in the appointment of Mr. Adom Botchway, so we would appeal to CLOGSAG to rescind their decision to go on strike,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.

While acknowledging strike actions as a legitimate means for workers to push their demands, he insisted there was no justifiable basis for such action in this instance.

“A strike action, we appreciate. It is one of the mechanisms they can use to drive home their demands… But in this particular instance, we do not believe that an efficient basis exists to go on strike because it will be unfair to the people of Ghana who pay the wages of all public officers, including members of CLOGSAG,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Kwakye Ofosu also dismissed allegations that the government is responsible for recent attacks on journalists.

His response follows strong criticism from the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Kwabena Dwumfour, who on Tuesday, February 18, condemned the Mahama administration over what he described as an “unprecedented” rise in assaults on journalists. Dwumfour cited seven recorded incidents since the beginning of Mahama’s tenure and expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to hold perpetrators accountable.

Kwakye Ofosu, however, described the claims as regrettable and unfair to both the government and the GJA.

“It was claimed that seven journalists had been attacked and statements were made that sought to create the impression that there is some design by Mahama and his government to attack journalists. It is a most regrettable narrative. We do not think that it is fair to President Mahama, it is fair to the government, it is even fair to the GJA or even to the journalists who are reported to have been attacked,” he said.

The Minister revealed that he had engaged the GJA President on the matter and both parties agreed to a direct meeting early next week to address concerns.

“I sought to find out exactly what informed that press conference and why other alternative approaches were not adopted to discuss the matters with the view to seeking redress for those who might have been affected. After the conversation, we agreed that early next week there should be a direct interaction between my office and the GJA,” he explained.

Kwakye Ofosu further rejected any suggestion that the government was targeting journalists in retaliation for their work.

“The way that the press conference was addressed and the way that the matters were couched created the impression that some journalists had perhaps said or written something that the government was unhappy about and therefore the government was carrying out reprisals against them.

“But that is completely incorrect. It is not true and nothing of the sort has happened,” he affirmed.

He also defended President Mahama’s record on press freedom, describing him as an affable leader who maintains a good relationship with the GJA.

“All of you are aware that President Mahama is an easy-going, down-to-earth, affable individual who relates well with all manner of people. He is a member of the GJA in good standing. Essentially, he is one of you and therefore he will be the last person to supervise a dispensation where journalists are attacked,” he stressed.