The leadership of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), has expressed its stance to seek legal action against what they call “political appointment” of the Registrar, Births and Deaths Registry if all efforts to reverse the appointment proves futile.

Speaking to the media, the Executive Secretary, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, disclosed that at its meeting held on Friday, March 11, 2022, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, after several deliberations, resolved that the political appointment of the Registrar of Births and Deaths should be reversed.

Also, the government should, as a matter of urgency, bring sanity to the Births and Deaths Registry. “Should these attempts fail, CLOGSAG shall use any means whatsoever at its disposal to rectify the situation at Births and Deaths Registry” he stressed.

According to the Association, the appointment of Madam Henrietta Lamptey as the Registrar, Births and Deaths Registry contradicts Article 195(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which stipulates that “the power to appoint persons to hold or to act in an office in the Public Services shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Governing Council concerned given in consultation with the Public Services Commission”. 

It noted that the appointment of Madam Henrietta Lamptey is not in accordance with the advice of the Civil Service Council. Thus, a blatant disregard for procedures of appointments into the Civil Service and Local Government Service as well as the neutrality principle.

According to the Executive Secretary, information available to the Association shows that prior to her appointment, Madam Lamptey holds a dual citizenship and her qualifications does not render her eligible to occupy the position. Noting that, “the position of Registrar of Births and Deaths Registry per Act 1027 should be occupied by a person with relevant academic qualification, experience and knowledge in civil registration”.

Adding to his words, he expressed that the political stance of Madam Lamptey is overt as she served as the Personal Assistant (PA) to the former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama.

Rebutting the stance of the Secretary to the President that the current Registry is not part of the Civil Service or the Local Government Service, the Association implores the relevant Minister to add the post of Registrar of Births and Deaths to the list of posts that cannot be occupied by persons holding dual citizenship.