‘GH¢1k Pay, Hunger and Arbitrary Dismissals’ – Atubiga drops ‘maltreatment’ allegations

GhanaWeb reported on Friday, September 11, 2026, that Stephen Atubiga, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential aspirant and current leader of the National Liberation Congress (NLC), has raised serious allegations regarding the maltreatment of NDC footsoldiers employed as National Security operatives at the Jubilee House. You know, it is one thing for political footsoldiers to endure the usual hardships of grassroots activism and wait patiently for the rewards of electoral victory, but it is an entirely different reality when a prominent political insider publicly exposes the alleged hunger, arbitrary dismissals, and severe financial struggles of the very operatives tasked with securing the seat of government.

The Office of the President, the Ministry of National Security, and the Jubilee House security apparatus are institutionally mandated to foster a secure, professional, and well-motivated workforce to protect the nation’s highest office. When influential political voices publicly interrogate the welfare, remuneration, and working conditions of grassroots security operatives stationed at the Presidency, it directly reinforces the core principles of labor rights, institutional accountability, and the foundational need to ensure that those entrusted with national security are treated with dignity and compensated fairly for their service.

In a fiery Facebook post on September 9, 2026, Atubiga issued a direct notice of caution to Colonel Abdulie and his deputy, Lieutenant Adonteng, who head security at the Presidency, urging them to urgently address the grievances of the 158 affected operatives. Highlighting the severe financial constraints, Atubiga alleged that the workers receive a base pay of only GH¢1,000, which, even with an additional GH¢1,200 support from the Chief of Staff, brings their total monthly take-home to a meager GH¢2,200. “GH¢2,200 monthly take-home can’t even take care of a call girl’s food, hotel and goodbye expenses, talking of a husband taking such home. How?” he queried, arguing that the remuneration is grossly inadequate for operatives with wives and children. He also leveled heavy accusations of arbitrary dismissals, claiming that operatives are routinely stripped of their ID cards and sent home for months over minor infractions. “They complain that even when you meet them in the lobby or corridors returning from the washroom, you just say, bring your card and go home. Some comrades have been home hungry for over three months now,” he alleged.

Beyond the financial and job security concerns, Atubiga pointed to a severe lack of engagement and empathy from the security leadership. He claimed that the commanders have not held meetings to listen to the operatives’ welfare issues, resulting in some workers being unable to report for duty simply because they lack transport fare. Describing the interactions between the security heads and the grassroots operatives as purely transactional and interrogative, he noted, “Immediately you see them, it is, ‘Come, what is your name? Who are you? Let me see your card?’” He further issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of ignoring these grievances, cautioning that frustrated operatives might resort to drastic measures if their plight is not addressed, referencing a past incident involving the manhandling of an official. Despite noting that these footsoldiers are “reaping what they have sown” from their days in opposition, Atubiga pleaded for their dignified treatment, urging the Presidency to engage them and secure better pay.

You know, when such explosive, highly detailed allegations of hunger, arbitrary sackings, and poor remuneration are leveled against the security management of the Presidency by a prominent political figure, it highlights the critical importance of ensuring that the welfare of all state security personnel, especially grassroots operatives, is prioritized to prevent internal friction and maintain the integrity of the nation’s highest office, doesn’t it? As the Jubilee House administration faces mounting pressure to investigate these claims and stakeholders reflect on the working conditions of political appointees and security staff, the public continues to monitor the situation, recognizing that robust public sector welfare frameworks and cooperative dialogue between the Office of the President, the Ministry of National Security, labor representatives, and the political directorates are vital pillars for ensuring fairness, institutional harmony, and order in Ghana’s national security and public administration landscape.

Starlight-Chronicles feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com