Accra: The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), has rejected a recommendation by the Constitution Review Committee to make the Controller and Accountant General's Department an independent body separate from the Ministry of Finance. The Association asserted that the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) is an implementing arm of the Ministry of Finance and should remain under its administrative oversight to ensure seamless coordination in public financial management.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, the Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, addressed a press conference in Accra, emphasizing that the CAGD executed government accounting, ensured payment control, and performed treasury management functions on behalf of the Ministry of Finance. He stated, "As part of the executive machinery responsible for implementing fiscal policy, the CAGD should remain administratively situated within the Ministry of Finance rather than be structurally separated into an independent constitutional body."
Dr. Daniel Appiah, Secretary of CLOGSAG's internal review committee, criticized the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) for not providing sufficient justification for the proposed change. He warned that making the CAGD independent could create institutional confusion, weaken coordination, and delay the processing of salaries and other payments. He added, "If there are strong reasons why this will enhance prudent public financial management, we are open to discussion. But we did not find any in the committee's report."
CLOGSAG proposed the establishment of an Independent Fiscal Responsibility Council, entrenched in the Constitution, to supervise public financial management and check excessive government expenditure. The Association argued that creating such a body through an Act of Parliament alone would make it vulnerable to suspension, as seen with the Fiscal Responsibility Act during the COVID-19 period. Dr. Appiah noted, "If it is entrenched in the Constitution, it will not be easy for any government to suspend it at will," advocating for a constitutionally backed fiscal council as a stronger safeguard against fiscal indiscipline.
Beyond the CAGD issue, CLOGSAG expressed concerns over other CRC recommendations affecting the Public Service. The Association objected to proposals giving the Council of State powers to recruit, vet, or make binding nominations for appointments to constitutional bodies and senior public service positions, including the Head of the Civil Service and the Controller and Accountant General. CLOGSAG emphasized that such responsibilities should remain with the governing councils of the respective services, in consultation with the Public Services Commission, to ensure merit-based appointments and institutional continuity.
Additionally, CLOGSAG recommended amending Article 197 of the Constitution to replace the permissive word 'may' with 'shall,' compelling the Public Services Commission to issue binding regulations for the governance of public services. The Association also criticized proposals to condition the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives on economic viability or population thresholds, arguing that such criteria would undermine equal political rights.
CLOGSAG commended the CRC for its extensive work but urged reconsideration of proposals that could weaken institutional coherence or create administrative fragmentation within the public services.