Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has chastised the Akufo-Addo administration for stifling career progression of young public sector workers.
According to the lawmaker, the government has packed public sector with retirees while young qualified persons are being overlooked.
“So far, I have counted hundreds of these retirees who have been engaged on multiple post retirement contracts by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government when they should be home enjoying their pensions instead of denying many qualified young Ghanaians employment opportunities,” he stated.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, records do not support the president’s penchant of appointing retired personnel into the public sector as it worsens the dire unemployment situation in the country.
“A country facing record high unemployment as captured by the 2021 Population and Housing Census of 13.4% and 32.8% for those aged 15-24 which is further aggravated by the current debilitating economic crisis should not be keeping so many retirees on contract in the public service.”he added.
He pointed out that in the Civil and Local Government Services alone, there are over 60 retirees on contract while the number is high in other sectors. This, he stressed, is a barrier to persons interested in working in the public sector, stifles career progression and lowers morale among serving public sector workers.
“There are as many as 63 retirees on contract within the Civil and Local Government Services as at today, and even more than this number under other public sector categories.
Apart from serving as a blockade to prospective young Ghanaians with public sector ambitions, the phenomenon is stifling career progression and lowering morale in Ghana’s public sector,” he noted.
The Akufo-Addo-led administration has come under severe criticisms for engaging retires public sector workers and appointing persons who are deemed to be associates into government.
TV3 morning show host, Johnnie Hughes has complained about the issue of the engagement of retirees when younger qualified persons abound.
source: theGhanaianvoice.com