Renowned human resource consultant and former Employment Minister, Austin Gamey, has defended the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) decision to terminate the appointments of some staff recruited in December 2024, insisting it aligns with Ghana’s labour laws.
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Speaking to Joy Business, Gamey clarified that under Ghanaian labour law, employers can hire workers on probation for up to six months, during which their performance is assessed. If a new hire underperforms, the employer is within legal rights to terminate the appointment, sometimes without notice. “If the company cannot keep you after probation, they can let you go with about two weeks’ notice, or even none,” he explained.
On June 19, 2025, the BoG sent termination letters to around 97 recruits hired after December 7, 2024, citing failure to meet performance standards during their probation period. This group represented less than half of the over 200 individuals employed during that time.
Gamey likened the situation to a footballer on trial with a team: “If they justify their inclusion, they get a full contract. If not, the club moves on.”
No Political Interference
Addressing speculation of political motives, Gamey rejected claims that the terminations were partisan. He noted that if the ruling NDC intended to purge politically-affiliated staff, the dismissals would have occurred immediately after assuming office. “If this were really political, they would have been fired long ago,” he argued.
He added that not all recruits were dismissed, reinforcing the point that the decision was based on individual performance, not political alignment.
Legal Action Unlikely to Succeed
Gamey also dismissed the prospects of a successful legal challenge by affected individuals, stating: “Unless it’s proven that they were denied due process, going to court won’t change anything.”
BoG Defends Decision
Bank of Ghana officials insist the action is a routine performance management measure, not a targeted dismissal. Accordiing to Joy Business, one senior official mentioned that some of the affected hires were even recruited without proper process, reinforcing the need for corrective action.
Gamey concluded by calling for a shift toward merit-based recruitment, adding that this would eliminate political turnover cycles. “If the system works by merit, these cycles will end,” he said.
Read also: awakenews.com.gh/bog-defends-termination-of-some-2024-recruits/
