“STOP Secondment Abuses and Restore Meritocracy”…
By Prince Ahenkorah
Career civil servants at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition have raised alarm over what they describe as systemic unfair treatment perpetuated by successive administrations, including that of the current Minister, John Jinapor. In a bold move, they have submitted a petition to various heads of civil service institutions, urging immediate action to address their grievances.
The civil servants express deep concern regarding longstanding practices that undermine their professional progress, particularly in relation to seconded staff occupying critical positions within the ministry.
The petition, which calls on President John Dramani Mahama to extend his reform agenda to the Ministry of Energy, reflects a growing frustration among employees over management practices they believe violate civil service protocols.
In their strongly-worded petition, addressed to the Head of the Civil Service, the Public Service Commission, and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), the workers point to specific instances of favoritism and misconduct.
They allege that former minister John Abdulai has exacerbated the situation by promoting individuals on secondment, notably mentioning Solomon Adjetey, who is now an Acting Chief Director.
According to the petition, Adjetey has been on secondment for over 18 years, far exceeding the typical three-year limit. Though he attained the grade of Senior Programme Officer from the Energy Commission, his promotion to Director of the Power Directorate in 2021, they claim, bypassed civil service procedure entirely and lacked the necessary engineering qualifications commonly required for such positions.
The petition underscores concerns that Adjetey has used his elevated status to pressure Minister Jinapor into appointing additional seconded staff to key director and deputy director roles, disregarding established civil service laws and regulations.
Moreover, the frustrations extend to other seconded personnel within the ministry, including Ing. Sulemana Abubakari, who has also secured the title of Acting Director of the Power Directorate despite his lengthy secondment exceeding 15 years.
Similarly, concerns have been raised about Hanson Monney, a former civil servant now at the Volta River Authority, who has lingered on secondment for over a decade yet sits in a senior capacity.
The malaise extends to the Petroleum Directorate, where seconded staff continue to occupy critical roles despite overstaying their appointed terms. Positions such as deputy director and head of downstream operations are now filled by individuals who have long surpassed their designated tenure, drawing further ire from the civil service workers.
CLOGSAG has taken notice of the petition, reaching out to the Minister for Energy, with a counter-communication from the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, requesting a meeting to discuss the concerns raised.
In a letter addressed directly to the ministers, CLOGSAG affirmed receipt of the petition from the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition staff, expressing deep concern over what they deem an administrative crisis stemming from the manipulation of civil service protocol and the erosion of merit-based appointment systems.
In tandem, the workers have prepared an open report for President Mahama and the Minister for Energy, detailing the “structural destruction” inflicted upon the ministry, attributing it to political interference that undermines civil service integrity.
The report, titled “Structural Destruction by the NPP at the Ministry of Energy,” outlines critical areas needing attention, including administrative breakdowns, deviations from civil service appointment procedures, and the impact on the ministry’s function due to political patronage and misaligned priorities.
As tensions mount, the future of governance at the Ministry of Energy hangs in the balance, with civil servants calling for reform that respects established protocols and upholds the principles of fairness and equity.