The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has decided to call off its ongoing nationwide indefinite strike action.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the National Secretariat, CLOGSAG, dated 20th January, 2022 signed by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, on the eve of the strike to press home demand for better conditions of service for its members.

The statement revealed that the National Executive Council (NEC) of CLOGSAG at its meeting held on Thursday, 20th January, 2022 had reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and CLOGSAG.

It further directed all members of the Association to organize themselves and resume work on Monday, 24th January, 2022 while expressing, “we are grateful to all our members for their support as well as the print and the electronic media for the coverage of our activities”.

Nonetheless, few hours before the industrial action was called off, some clients were hit hard across the country which left them disappointed. In adherence to the directive, institutions such as the Registrar-General’s Department, Railways Development, Finance, Works and Housing, Sanitation and Water Resources Ministries, among others, were closed for business.

On its part, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) noted that the government had granted some aspects of the demands of CLOGSAG while others are being worked on. It added that the MoU mandates CLOGSAG, based on the agreement, to call off the nationwide strike with immediate effect. “We wish to thank the leadership of CLOGSAG for their cooperation in this matter”, the FWSC said.

The Executive Secretary, in his keynote address at CLOGSAG end of year meeting and awards ceremony held at Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 disclosed that Council had declared that from Thursday, 20th January, 2022, all members of CLOGSAG would embark on a nationwide strike to press home better conditions of service.

According to him, Article 94 (3b) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana excluded certain Public Services including the Civil Service from participating in partisan activities. Noting that, these Services apart from the Civil Service are enjoying enhanced salary structure.

Mr. Bampoe Addo said, CLOGSAG is of the opinion that its members are entitled to a salary structure comparable to those enjoyed by these other services.

He noted that, the Association finds the undue delay in finalizing negotiation on the conditions of service for CLOGSAG members as worrying and unacceptable. Hence, the need to undertake an indefinite nationwide strike action as declared by Council.

Before the eve of the strike, nearly all offices at the Ministerial enclave as well as trees and signposts at road intersections had red bands to signal the intended nationwide strike.