The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni has said the decision to suspend and review the appointments of 30 newly recruited Foreign Service Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was aimed at protecting the integrity of laid down regulations governing recruitment into the Ghana Civil Service and the Foreign Service in particular.

The decision was also to ensure the principle of meritocracy and non-discrimination in the recruitment process. The Minister made the statement in Parliament today in response to a question by Hon. Ayorkor Botchway who wanted to know the fate of the 30 Foreign Service officers who were recruited last year under the NPP administration and whose appointments were suspended by the Transitional team in January 2009.

According to the Minister, investigations into the issue revealed that the selection Board had recommended the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment into the ministry. However, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs ignored the selection Board’s recommendation by selecting 11 out of the 30 top-ranked interviewees and 22 others who did not fall within the first 30 for appointments.

Also the former foreign Affairs Minister recruited 7 other persons who had not taken part in the prescribed examination conducted for the applicants as well as the subsequent interview. Hon. Mumuni said his Ministry therefore sought the approval of the Head of Civil Service and subsequently appointed the first 30 candidates into the Branch A5 grade of the Ministry with effect from April 2nd, 2009.