CLOGSAG’s True Partisan Agenda Exposed

In a striking display of political bias and selective outrage, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) had initially threatened to declare a nationwide strike to protest the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as the Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry. However, their deafening silence during past appointments of politically exposed persons into key public sector roles laid bare the group’s true partisan agenda.

The decision to threaten a strike had been announced following a meeting of CLOGSAG’s National Executive Council on February 11, 2025. In a press release, the association cited concerns over the “appointment of politically exposed persons into the Civil Service and local government structures.” Yet, a closer examination of the group’s past actions, or rather inactions, revealed a troubling pattern of selective criticism that undermined their credibility as a non-partisan advocate for the public good.

During the previous administration, CLOGSAG remained conspicuously silent as several politically connected individuals were appointed to influential positions within the public sector. These include the Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning Bosompem, who contested a parliamentary seat of Akim Swedru for the then ruling NPP party and refused to resign despite calls to do so, the NIB Bank Managing Director, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, who was also an NPP parliamentary candidate for Manso Nkwanta, and various officials from the Electoral Commission, such as Eric Bossman Asare, who held patron roles within the ruling party’s student wing.

Also, Dr. Peter Appiahene, a known NPP activist in the Bono Region and a member of the party’s communications team, was appointed to the Electoral Commission. When criticized for these politically-charged appointments, a senior NPP figure, Nana Obiri Boahen, the former deputy General Secretary of the party, defended the president’s decision, stating that there was nothing wrong with Dr. Appiahene’s appointment.

Despite these clear instances of political appointments during the previous administration, CLOGSAG chose to remain silent. Their current outrage over the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as the Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry raised questions about the group’s true motivations and whether they were driven by a partisan agenda rather than a genuine concern for the integrity of the civil service.

“It is truly baffling that CLOGSAG chose to remain silent then, but now they have found their voice to condemn the appointment of Mr. Botchway. Their selective outrage and double standards are a clear indication that their actions are driven by a partisan agenda, rather than a genuine concern for the integrity of the civil service,” said Dr. Augustus Kwame Agyemang, a public policy analyst.

The decision to strike had been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing CLOGSAG of undermining the public’s trust in the civil service. “These are the very people we entrust to provide impartial and efficient public services, yet they are engaging in political grandstanding that can only serve to erode public confidence,” said Agartha Adu-Amankwah, a concerned citizen.

However, CLOGSAG has now suspended its intended nationwide strike following the decision by President John Mahama to withdraw the appointment of Seth Botchwey as the Registrar of the Birth and Death Registry. The association had deemed Mr. Botchway as a “politically exposed” person.

While this appears to be a positive step, the association’s continued stance raises concerns about their true motivations. CLOGSAG’s assertion that it has compiled a list of five hundred “politically exposed persons” in the Civil Service and plans to “chase them out” suggests a worrying pattern of selective targeting and a lack of impartiality.

A political commentator, Isaac Kwesi Amoako said, “CLOGSAG’s actions seem to be more about settling political scores than upholding the integrity of the civil service. If they were genuinely concerned about political interference, they should have spoken up earlier and applied the same scrutiny to all appointments, regardless of political affiliation.”

This selective approach has led many to question whether CLOGSAG’s real agenda is to target and remove individuals perceived to be affiliated with the opposition party, rather than addressing the broader issue of political interference in the civil service.

“By singling out specific appointments and compiling a list of ‘politically exposed persons,’ CLOGSAG risks being seen as a partisan actor, rather than an impartial guardian of the civil service. This undermines their credibility and ability to be a trusted voice on these critical matters. It is surprising that they didn’t see such list in the previous administration,” said Dr. Agyemang.

The ongoing saga has once again highlighted the need for robust mechanisms to safeguard the independence and integrity of Ghana’s civil service. Experts argue that this issue transcends partisan divides and requires a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to address the root causes of political interference in public institutions.

According to Dr. Agyemang, “This is not about left or right, this is about upholding the principles of good governance and ensuring that the public sector serves the interests of all Ghanaians, regardless of their political affiliations. CLOGSAG has an opportunity to be a part of the solution, but they must first confront their own biases and demonstrate a genuine commitment to non-partisanship.”

As the nation watches the unfolding events, the onus is on CLOGSAG to prove that their actions are driven by a sincere desire to protect the civil service, rather than a narrow political agenda. The credibility of the public sector, and the trust of the Ghanaian people, hangs in the balance. Failure to do so could further erode public confidence in the very institutions that are meant to serve the people impartially

Source: Innocent Samuel Appiah