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The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has indefinitely suspended one of its officers in the Ashanti Region, for exercising his rights to free speech, saying he had breached the Civil Service Law – PNDC Law 327 by mocking the first two gentlemen of the land.
The officer, Haroun-Armed Alfa Justice, who was appointed in August 2009, is accused of posting pictures of the president, Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, which the Organization finds offensive, distasteful and derogatory.
“Following the posting of the pictures of both the sitting president of the Republic of Ghana and his vice with abusive and image dented message, as well as a mockery question on your facebook wall copy attached, you are hereby directed by the office of the regional director to proceed on indefinite suspension effective Wednesday 30 August 2017”, the letter issued him said.
It continued that, “your actions as appeared on your facebook wall, constitute a major offense and breach of the Code of Ethics of both the Civil and Local Government Service under canon one- the Principle of anonymity and performance as stated in part II, enjoins officers to maintain neutrality in the performance of public functions“.
The Organisation’s offices at Kwadaso Sub-Metro in Kumasi, which issued the directive said Mr. Haroun-Ahmed’s behaviour on his private social media handle, breached the Civil Service Law 1993.
“This directive draws it strength with appointment letter given to you dated 26 August 2009, under reference NDHQ paragraph which reads “You will be subject to the Civil Service Law 1993 (PNDCL327) the Public Service Commission Act 1994 (Act 482) and any statutory instruction made there under and other general or department instructions as well as administrative directive for the time being enforce”, the letter said.
The said Act, the letter stated demands that officers not to “act as agent of or for the interest of a political, social, ethic, gender, or other interest group”.
It also requires them not to “attempt or support the functions , programmes and activities of political, social, ethic or gender interest group in a private capacity and name or in circumstances unrelated to the discharge of the project and tasks of the Civil and Local Government Services”.
The directive, issued on August 30 2017, and signed by the Acting Head of Finance and Administration, Atakora Kodua, said the picture posted on social media, made mockery of the first gentlemen of the land, hence the decision to suspend him indefinitely.
The letter which was copied to the Director General for NADMO in Accra, had various governmental institutions in the region, including the Ashanti Regional Minister, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) served notice.
When contact by this paper, Alfa , confirmed that indeed, he has been given the marching orders to go home, but will speak at the appropriate time, as there is more to his sacking.
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