NPP’s last-minute recruitment was a political strategy – Rashid Pelpuo

Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has accused the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of deliberately using last-minute recruitments as a political tool.

He said the move was designed to gain public favour rather than provide genuine employment opportunities.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Dr. Pelpuo revealed that the former administration recruited over 12,000 workers just before leaving office, a decision he described as a calculated attempt to win electoral support. According to him, the action placed a huge financial burden on the state without proper budgetary allocation or long-term planning.

“They had done this over a period of time, hoping that by imposing another 12,000, they would win the hearts of young people and secure another mandate,” Dr. Pelpuo said.

He argued that the recruitments were not based on real labour needs but on political motives. “It wasn’t about wanting to pay them; it was about giving the impression that people were employed,” he added.

Drawing comparisons with previous transitions, Dr. Pelpuo recalled how similar challenges were inherited by the late President John Atta Mills’ administration in 2009. “When President Kufuor was leaving office, we were confronted with the Single Spine Salary Structure, which became a huge financial burden. It seems to be part of their political DNA—to create problems for the next government,” he said.

The minister condemned the practice of last-minute recruitments by outgoing governments, calling it a harmful and short-sighted political act. “When your time as a government is over, just leave. The people have already made their choice. You can’t change your political fate by overloading the system with unplanned workers,” he stressed.

Dr. Pelpuo assured that the current administration is working to resolve the issue of salary arrears and unpaid workers left behind by the previous government. “We are doing everything possible to regularise their status and ensure everyone receives what they deserve,” he said.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fair labour practices, transparency, and sustainable employment reforms to restore stability in the public sector.