Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called on President John Mahama to stop laying off public sector workers and instead prioritize creating new jobs.
He criticized the current administration for dismissing employees hired under the previous government, which he described as a betrayal of both democratic values and the promises made during Mahama’s campaign.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dr. Bawumia accused Mahama’s government of unfairly terminating the employment of various public servants, including security personnel, nurses, and teachers, solely because they were appointed under the former administration.
He pointed out that this move contradicted Mahama’s pledge to create more jobs for Ghanaians.
“The least a government promising job creation can do in a time of high unemployment is innovate and create jobs, rather than dismissing workers,” Bawumia wrote on Facebook.
Bawumia also described the dismissals as unjust and ironic, highlighting that even non-political public servants were being targeted due to supposed affiliations with political figures. “In some cases, workers are being let go simply because they are known to or related to politicians, despite their qualifications,” he added.
Further, Dr. Bawumia expressed concerns over the worsening security situation in Ghana, pointing to incidents such as attacks on journalists, military raids on the homes of former government officials, and violent mob actions against state institutions.
He warned that these developments were reminiscent of a military takeover, not a peaceful democratic transition.
The former vice president urged Mahama to reverse the layoffs and govern in a manner that serves the interests of all Ghanaians, cautioning against a return to past political excesses. “Repeating or escalating past mistakes will not bring progress,” he stressed.
Bawumia concluded by calling for the protection of state institutions and the rule of law, asserting, “Ghana can do better. Ghana must do better.”
