Violation of Supreme Court Order Alleged as Controller and Accountant-General Contemplates Parliamentary Run – Prof Asare

The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, have been accused of breaching a Supreme Court order by actively participating in politics, violating the constitutional guidelines. Professor Kwaku Asare, a private legal practitioner, highlighted that the Supreme Court had unequivocally ruled against civil servants engaging in overt political activities. Kwaning-Bosompem’s decision to pick forms for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primary, without resigning from the civil service, is seen as a direct violation of this legal precedent, according to Prof Asare.

Professor Asare asserted that the Attorney-General should intervene to prevent Kwaning-Bosompem from contesting or insist on his resignation. He expressed astonishment that the Attorney-General had not taken action to halt these activities, emphasizing the clear legal restrictions on civil servants participating overtly in political party affairs.

The Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) echoed these concerns, calling for the immediate resignation of the Controller and Accountant-General due to his involvement in partisan politics. Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, pointed out that Ghana’s Civil Service regulations prohibit civil servants from actively participating in partisan politics while still in service. He referenced previous cases where civil servants engaging in open partisan politics were dismissed, emphasizing that Kwaning-Bosompem should face similar consequences.

Bampoe Addo emphasized the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Neutrality Act of 2017, which explicitly states that civil servants should refrain from partisan activities. He highlighted the dismissal of civil servants who had violated these rules and questioned the accountability of political appointees entering civil service positions. In conclusion, he reiterated that the constitution mandates the departure of civil servants whose political affiliations become overtly known during their service tenure.