Ofori-Atta Calls For Posthumous National Honour For Late CLOGSAG Leader

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has called for the late Dr Isaac Akuetteh Bampoe Addo to receive a posthumous national honour, describing him as a principled labour leader whose work helped protect public sector employees during some of Ghana’s most difficult economic moments.

In a tribute published in the funeral brochure for Dr Bampoe Addo and his twin brother, Sidney Nii Oko Bampoe Addo, Ofori-Atta reflected on their seven years of working together and praised the former Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) for his courage, preparation and negotiating skills.

Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024, said their engagements covered annual negotiations on the national daily minimum wage, public sector base pay and conditions of service.

He particularly remembered Bampoe Addo’s contribution during the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), when government was seeking ways to address Ghana’s debt crisis and restore economic stability.

According to the former minister, the late union leader consistently pushed government to consider different options before reaching agreements. His approach reportedly impressed international bankers and lawyers involved in the debt restructuring discussions.

“Government’s International Bankers and Lawyers were amazed by his thoroughness, boldness, and ingenuity. We changed the formula many times because Dr. had a different angle on it,” Ofori-Atta recalled.

He said Bampoe Addo understood the need to secure concessions for workers without taking positions that could undermine the country’s economic recovery. Ofori-Atta also credited him and other union leaders with helping negotiate arrangements that allowed organised labour to obtain concessions during the debt exchange process.

Beyond the economic negotiations, the former Finance Minister highlighted two major developments associated with Bampoe Addo’s leadership: the Supreme Court victory affirming civil servants’ right to belong to political parties of their choice and the merger of the civil service and local government unions, which expanded CLOGSAG’s membership to more than 60,000.

Ofori-Atta described him as one of Ghana’s outstanding union leaders and said his dedication to workers’ rights deserved recognition beyond the labour movement.

Dr Bampoe Addo died on August 21, 2026, aged 59. His twin brother, Sidney, a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, died on September 14, also aged 59. Their final funeral rites were held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra on Saturday, November 7.

Ofori-Atta ended his tribute by expressing hope that the nation would formally honour the late labour leader for his contribution to workers and national development.

Source: https://x.com/citi973/status/2119100310048174504?s=46

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