Penyman Foundation Opposes CLOSSAG’s Nationwide Strike
The Penyman Foundation has publicly expressed its opposition to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana’s (CLOSSAG) decision to embark on a nationwide strike. The strike is in protest of the appointment of Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey as the Managing Director of the Birth and Death Registry.
According to a press statement released by the Penyman Foundation, the organization questions the legitimacy of CLOSSAG’s objection, given that Chief Executives of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are also appointed by the government without resistance from CLOSSAG.
The statement highlights that Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey previously served as District Chief Executive (DCE) under President Mahama’s first term and worked harmoniously with CLOSSAG members. This makes it puzzling that his current appointment is being met with opposition.
The Penyman Foundation emphasizes the need for a constitutional review to clarify ambiguities related to such appointments. The organization also urges CLOSSAG members to focus on critical national issues, such as illegal mining, rather than engaging in politically motivated criticisms.
Furthermore, the Penyman Foundation calls on organized labor, including CLOSSAG, to demonstrate against illegal mining, which persists under President Mahama’s administration. The organization expresses its full support for the appointment of Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey as the Managing Director of the Birth and Death Registry.
Read full statement below:
14th February,2025
Official
Press Statement: To All Media Houses
CC:
CLOSSAG NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,ACCRA
Opposition to CLOSSAG’s Nationwide Strike Regarding Appointment of Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey as MD, Birth and Death Registry.
………………………………….
We, the management of Penyman Foundation and its affiliate organizations, wish to express our opposition to the decision by the national executives of CLOSSAG to embark on a nationwide strike in protest of the appointment of Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey as the Managing Director of the Birth and Death Registry.
We question whether the national executives of CLOSSAG have a legitimate basis for their objection, considering that Chief Executives of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are also appointed by the government without any resistance from CLOSSAG, despite the fact that MMDA staff are CLOSSAG members. If such appointments have not warranted similar protests, it raises concerns about the consistency of CLOSSAG’s stance.
It is important to note that Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey served as District Chief Executive (DCE) under President Mahama’s first term and worked harmoniously with CLOSSAG members at the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa District Assembly. It is therefore puzzling that his current appointment, which involves working with the same category of public servants, is being met with opposition.
This situation highlights the need for a constitutional review to clarify ambiguities related to such appointments. We do not support the animosity and politically motivated criticisms directed at President Nana Addo for appointing individuals with political backgrounds to enhance the operations of public institutions, including the Electoral Commission, which supervised the election that brought the NDC to power in the 2024 general election.
The outcome of the 2024 election disproves the notion that appointing politically exposed individuals to public institutions necessarily leads to biased operations favoring the appointing authority.
We urge CLOSSAG members to channel their energy towards addressing critical national issues such as illegal mining, which persists under President Mahama’s administration. We also call on Prof. Ransford Gyampo to demonstrate the same commitment against illegal mining as he did during President Nana Addo’s tenure.
Similarly, we remind Sammy Gyamfi, Esq. that the deplorable state of our rivers continues, and illegal gold finds its way to the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), where he currently serves. It is our hope that President Mahama acknowledges the unemployment challenges that contributed to the rise in illegal mining, and that his administration provides alternative livelihood support for the youth affected by the ban on rosewood trading and those at risk of being displaced from illegal mining activities.
At Penyman Foundation, we believe that the 24-hour economy concept can be sustained through the proper regulation of small-scale mining and the rosewood business, which already operate round-the-clock. We call on organized labor, including CLOSSAG, to demonstrate against illegal mining now, rather than waiting until election periods, which could indicate political bias.
In conclusion, we express our full support for the appointment of Hon. Samuel Adom Botwey as the Managing Director of the Birth and Death Registry.
Thank you.
Signed,
Mr. Eric Kwesi Taylor
CEO, Penyman Foundation
Accra, Ghana
