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We write to petition the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), the second highest decision-making body of the Association, to as a matter of urgency, remove the Acting President of the Association, Mr. Benjamin Otto from office.
This petition is borne out of the following reasons:
MR BENJAMIN OTTO IS NOT A MEMER OF THE ASSOCIATION
From the facts available, Mr. Otto is not a member of the Association to hold any elected/appointed position of the Association let alone the highest position in the structure of the Association.
Mr. Otto’s non-membership status is based on the fact that he is not a dues paying member of the Association.
Available facts indicate that Mr. Otto as a Chartered Accountant does not draw his salary from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department as has been the case of all other dues paying members of the Association.
Mr. Otto is on the payroll of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) who does not deduct CLOGSAG dues from their payroll.
Mr Otto’s non-membership status defeats and contravenes the aim and objectives of the Association as provided for in Article 4(3&4) of the constitution of the Association which state that:
“To promote and protect the interests of members, and secure for ourselves such better conditions of service as would attract and retain within the Civil and Local Government Services highly qualified personnel”.
“To serve as the mouth-piece for our members and represent them in all matters affecting them and as provided for by law”.
By the above provisions, Mr. Otto not being a member of the Association is not affected by the conditions of service of members of the Association and to a larger extend, issues affecting them do not affect him.
Mr. Otto not being a member of the Association and holding himself as the President of the Association is also a clear contravention of Articles 12 (4)(a) and 8(2) of the constitution of the Association.
Per Article 12(4)(a) which is on Election and Eligibility of Office, states that:
“Members offering themselves as candidates for any office in the Association
shall meet the following requirements:
Must be dues paying members;
In that same vein Article 8(2) of the constitution of the Association which is on dues provides that:
“The dues of members who are public servants shall be deducted at source by the employer”.
By the provisions in the constitution of the Association stated above, Mr. Otto is not eligible to hold any office of the Association by the reason that he is not dues paying member of the Association.
Hon. Members of NEC, it will interest you to know that because Mr. Otto is enjoying better salary and condition of service by being on the GRA payroll, he is absolutely unconcerned and unperturbed about the delay in the NEW SALARY STRUCTURE FOR MEMBERS OF CLOGSAG. Reason being that he will not benefit in anyway or howsoever from such New Salary Structure. This is highly unacceptable to say the least.
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) HAS THE POWER TO REMOVE MR BENJAMIN OTTO.
We would humbly want to draw NEC’s attention to the fact that, the constitution of the Association clothes NEC the power to appoint and disappoint/remove as provided for in Article 12(3) (c) of the constitution of the Association which states that:
“In the event of a position becoming vacant as a result of transfer, resignation or death of the officer, the National Executive council, National Executive Committee, the Regional Executive Committee and the District Executive Committee shall nominate a member to act until the next elections at the National, Regional, District and Local Representative Levels respectively.
Since the Appointment of Mr. Otto by NEC was based on the above constitutional provision, it is implied that NEC can remove any officer it appoints if the need be, including Mr. Otto.
We are therefore by the above stated reasons and per the status of Mr. Benjamin Otto in the Association, appealing to NEC to remove him from office as the AG. President of this noble Association.
It is worth noting that in as much as a Togolese cannot be a President of Ghana, it is in the same vein that a non-member of the Association must not be allowed to be the President of the Association.
We have the believe in the interest of fairness, propriety and integrity of our dear Association, it’s hoped that the distinguished members of NEC would consider this petition on its merits and as a matter of urgency act accordingly to forestall any unnecessary upheaval in our noble Association.
We look forward to a positive response in this regard.
Thank you.
DISTRIBUTION LIST:
ALL NEC MEMBERS
CLOGSAG
ALL REGIONAL SECRETARIATS
CLOGSAG
ALL DISTRICT SECRETARIATS
CLOGSAG
ALL DEPARTMENTAL REPS
CLOGSAG
THE HEAD OF SERVICE
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE
ACCRA
THE HEAD OF SERVICE
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE
ACCRA
