Government reassigns Samuel Adom Botchway, averts CLOGSAG strike

The government has announced the reassignment of Samuel Adom Botchway from his position as Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry following a nationwide strike threat by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG).

CLOGSAG had declared its intention to embark on an industrial action beginning Thursday, February 20, 2025, in protest against Botchway’s appointment, arguing that he was a politically exposed individual and not a career civil servant. The National Executive Council (NEC) of CLOGSAG, after a meeting on February 11, 2025, raised concerns over politically affiliated appointments to key positions in the civil and local government service.

Mr Botchway assumed office on February 12, 2025, but his appointment was met with stiff opposition from CLOGSAG, which insisted that the role should be occupied by a qualified civil servant. The association’s planned strike was aimed at pressuring the government to reverse the appointment.

However, in a statement issued on Friday, February 14, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed that the matter had been resolved and that Botchway would be reassigned.

“In the truest spirit of cooperation and understanding, we are happy to announce that the matter has been resolved and there will be no nationwide strike by CLOGSAG,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.

He also highlighted that the precedent of appointing non-civil servants to such positions was initially set by the previous administration and remains a pending legal matter.

“We have learned that the precedent that was set by the outgone government of appointing a non-civil servant to that position remains a pending matter in the courts,” he noted.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive governance and responsiveness, Kwakye Ofosu assured stakeholders that the administration would continue to engage with relevant parties to ensure harmony within the civil and local government sectors.

“The Government of President Mahama remains committed to being a listening one as we together reset our nation,” he emphasized.

With the resolution of the dispute, CLOGSAG’s planned nationwide strike has been called off, averting potential disruptions in the civil and local government service.