Sacking Previous Government Appointees Is Dangerous — Rev. James O. Batsa Warns

According to report by Kessbenonline on Tuesday 10, November 2026, the Eastern Regional Deputy Communications Officer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rev. James O. Batsa, has cautioned against the growing practice of dismissing government appointees and public sector employees solely because they were recruited or appointed under a previous administration.

Speaking on the Kessben Maakye programme in Accra while commenting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged sale and issuance of Ghanaian service and diplomatic passports, Rev. Batsa described the practice as dangerous and warned that it could eventually work against political parties currently in opposition.

According to him, changes in government should not automatically result in the removal of public officers simply because they are perceived to have political affiliations with the previous administration. He argued that such actions could create a dangerous precedent that may later affect those who are currently advocating for politically motivated dismissals when they return to power.

Rev. Batsa described the situation as an unfortunate political practice he associates with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stressing the need for Ghana to adopt a fair and consistent approach to public sector appointments and administrative transitions.

He also raised questions about the criteria used in determining individuals who qualify to hold diplomatic passports. In particular, he questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported eligibility of former NPP National Organiser Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, to possess a diplomatic passport.

Touching on appointments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rev. Batsa further alleged that the recruitment of Alhassan Sumani, popularly known as Goro Boy, as a Junior Foreign Service Officer on November 29, 2023, was politically motivated.

He claimed that the appointment was intended to create a negative impression about the then-opposition NDC ahead of the 2024 general elections. He also alleged that Sumani was a committed, card-bearing member of the NPP.

Rev. Batsa maintained that public appointments and government decisions must be guided by transparency, fairness and the national interest rather than partisan political considerations.

He urged political actors to exercise caution in handling issues involving public sector employment, warning that political retaliation could undermine institutional stability and set an unhealthy precedent for future administrations.