The former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, has filed a lawsuit against the government regarding the revocation of appointments and recruitments made by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration following the December 7 elections.
The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court on behalf of 40 affected public sector workers who were dismissed following the revocation directives by President John Dramani Mahama, targets not only the government, but also six government institutions.
These institutions include the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Shippers Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), the National Lottery Authority (NLA), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The plaintiffs are seeking various reliefs from the defendants.
Below are the full details of the reliefs the former 40 public sector workers are seeking:
1. A declaration that neither the President of the Republic nor the Chief of Staff of the President has the power to remove a member of the public services from office save and except on the grounds specified in article 191(b) of the Constitution.
2. A declaration that the directive of the Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic dated February 10, 2025, requesting all heads of government institutions “to take the necessary steps to annul any appointments or recruitments” after December 7, 2024, is unlawful, null, void and of no effect.
3. A declaration that the decisions of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Respondents implementing the directive of the President’s Chief of Staff are unlawful, null, void, and of no effect.
4. An order of certiorari to bring in the decision of the Chief of Staff of the President complained of in (ii) above and quash same as being in violation of due process, particularly, article 191(b) of the Constitution, the relevant laws and disciplinary regulations for the public services of the Republic of Ghana.
5. An order of certiorari to bring in the decision of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Respondents complained of in (iii) above, purportedly carrying out the Chief of Staff’s directives referred to in (ii) above, and quash same as without basis, unlawful and in gross violation of due process.
6. An order of mandamus compelling the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Respondents to allow the applicants to resume normal duties as members of the public services of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Respondents herein.
7. An order prohibiting the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Respondents from dismissing or removing the applicants from the office except in accordance with article 191 of the Constitution.
8. Damages for the harm, inconvenience, and hardship caused the applicants.
9. Costs of litigation including lawyer’s fees.
10. Any other order(s) the court may seem meet.
The hearing is scheduled for June 2025.
Source: ghanaweb.com
