The announcement was made during a dialogue session with President John Dramani Mahama and Organised Labour on March 17.

According to Dr Forson, the recruitment drive forms part of commitments made under an agreement with labour unions to strengthen staffing across key public institutions.

“In line with the 9th November 2025 agreement on the 2026 base pay, government committed to engage with unions and undertake critical recruitment into the public service, all within budget constraints,” he stated.

“In this regard, government has commenced processes for the recruitment of staff into the public service.”

His comments come against the backdrop of mounting fiscal challenges. The Minister revealed that government had to borrow GH₵17 billion in 2025 to meet salary obligations, underscoring the strain on public finances.

He further noted that Ghana’s compensation-to-tax revenue ratio currently stands at 44 percent, significantly above the 35 percent benchmark set by the Economic Community of West African States.

Data from the 2025 fiscal year shows that the country’s compensation bill reached GH₵78.9 billion, exceeding the remaining non-oil tax revenue—after statutory deductions and debt servicing—by GH₵17 billion. The gap, he indicated, was financed through borrowing.

Despite these pressures, Dr Forson assured stakeholders that the recruitment exercise would be carefully managed to avoid worsening the fiscal situation.

“Within budget constraints,” he emphasised, the government will proceed with the hiring process as part of its broader engagement with Organised Labour.

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Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, speaking on the floor of Parliament, appealed to President John Mahama to intervene and protect the future of those affected.

He emphasized that recruitment is a process, not an event, and expressed concern for the individuals who have already gone through interviews and aptitude tests.

“Right now, across the country, young men and women are being dismissed. How are they supposed to feed themselves and their families?” Afenyo-Markin questioned.

However, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga dismissed the Minority’s call, blaming the situation on the “reckless” recruitment practices of the Akufo-Addo administration.

He accused the previous administration of hiring party loyalists and family members instead of qualified candidates.

Mr. Ayariga further criticized the recruitment process for lacking transparency, alleging that appointments were politically motivated and made without proper advertisements.

“If you know you’re leaving office and decide to flood the public sector with workers, making it difficult for the incoming government, what do you expect?” Ayariga said, referring to the situation as an abuse of discretion.

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