Ken Ofori-Atta recalls pandemic and DDEP partnership in tribute to late CLOGSAG boss

Former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has paid a glowing tribute to the late Dr Isaac Akuetteh Bampoe Addo, describing the former Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) as the “Lion King of CLOGSAG.”

The tribute, published in the funeral brochure for Dr Bampoe Addo and his twin brother, Sidney Nii Oko Bampoe Addo, was released as final funeral rites were held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.

Dr Bampoe Addo died on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the age of 59, while Sidney, a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, passed away on Monday, September 14, 2026, also aged 59.

In his tribute, Mr Ofori-Atta recounted his working relationship with Dr Bampoe Addo, whom he described as an enigma and a patriot who was a balancing act of firmness and wit. He recalled their collaboration over seven years on negotiations for the national daily minimum wage and the determination of base pay under the Public Service Joint Staff Negotiating Committee.

“Dr understood that we shared the belief to get the community (the Republic) across the Jordan. The Odd Couple (Dr and I, Dr and Baah), however, brokered a career out of the unions,” he wrote.

Mr Ofori-Atta noted that Dr Bampoe Addo’s leadership was particularly evident during moments when the Republic was vulnerable. “Your leadership and tactical skills kept the raft afloat even as we tried to convince that we were going the right way,” he said.

He highlighted Dr Bampoe Addo’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic and the domestic debt exchange programme, stating that during the exchange, “he never forgot his roots and had not stopped caring for his constituency. After many harrowing debates, we concluded a deal that enabled us to move forward, everyone feeling bruised, but elated and satisfied that we had all done our best for the Republic and the Unions.”

The former Finance Minister described Dr Bampoe Addo as a man who was respected and a formidable negotiator, noting that his relationship with the labour leader was built on trust. “He was one of the greatest of the union comrades and ranks with the hallowed levels of Tewiah, Appiah-Adjei, Azu, Amanakwah, Asamoah, and Dr Baah,” he stated.

The funeral rites at the State House forecourt included filing past from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., followed by the burial service from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Private interment followed, with the final funeral rites continuing at the same venue from noon to 5:00 p.m.

A thanksgiving service is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at Winners Chapel in the North Industrial Area, beginning at 9:00 a.m., with a thanksgiving reception to follow at Accra Academy in Bubuashie at noon.

Here is the complete transcription of the tribute by Ken Ofori-Atta, Former Minister for Finance, extracted from the funeral brochure:

TRIBUTE TO DR. ISAAC BAMPOE ADDO: THE LION KING OF CLOGSAG FROM KEN OFORI-ATTA. MINISTER FOR FINANCE, 2017 – 2024

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” – Colossians 3:23.

Angie and I are profoundly saddened by the calling of Dr. by our Lord.

Dr. was an Enigma and Patriot. He was balancing a plethora of boundaries: weight and wit, formidable and a wily negotiator who led a union that had Directors and Chief Directors who were senior to him, the inevitable conflict of what is good for the Republic versus the union, CLOGSAG, how to remain respectful of the ministers and to swiftly treat with short shrift any of us (Ministers, TUC, Civil Service directors) who crossed the line.

Dr. would always confound you with his depth of knowledge and the vintage glint in his eye, and knowing smile, “I gotcha”. But he was inscrutable. Thus, one never knew when he feigned exasperation and might erupt into exorcination. He was not to be bullied, though he would bully, and thus managed with dexterity his love-hate relationship with his senior members in the civil service and local government, and with the mother union TUC and Ministers.

Dr. had his idiosyncrasies and was not necessarily loved by some of the leadership of the TUC. Nor by some of the senior members, Directors, and Chief Directors of CLOGSAG. There was, however, respect. I made it known to my staff that it was to be duly accorded. Dr. was ambitious and had a burning drive which fueled his stamina to pursue his dreams, which were laudable. Lord forbid, if you stood in his way and there was a hint of disrespect from you, he would have an immediate comeback in no uncertain terms. His ambitions were not driven by ruthlessness or a clamour for applause.

He was motivated by a fierce urgency for fundamental change and to enhance the rights of his constituency. It was during his tenure that CLOGSAG won the Supreme Court case for civil servants, like all Ghanaians, to belong to a political party of choice, and also the merger of the civil service and local government unions, thus increasing their membership to over 60,000, giving him more standing.

We worked closely over 7 years. In each of those years, we worked on the annual negotiations of the national daily minimum wage and the determination of base pay under the Public Service Joint Staff Negotiating Committee (PSJSNC). After the first year in office, the Ministries of Finance and Employment started quarterly dialogues with the unions to brief them on the economy and get their input for the budget and Fund negotiations. Through these, we developed the Social Partnership Council, which I chaired. Dr. was a key partner in its formation and subsequent implementation of its recommendations. We built a circle of trust, and this served us immensely in the COVID and post-pandemic period.

The post-pandemic events truly tested our relationship. The government had spent considerable resources, with the buy-in of the unions, to successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic (vaccines, salaries for government employees while on lockdown, free electricity, water, food, and keeping the students in school, thus ensuring the school year was honoured). But we now faced an existential crisis in the economy. Difficult decisions on the country’s debt, including the introduction of the domestic debt exchange program (DDEP), and a return to the IMF.

Dr. understood that we shared the belief to get the community (the Republic) across the Jordan. The Odd Couple (Dr. and Dr. Baah), however, brokered a carve-out for the unions. Dr’s genius was evident during these tense moments in which the Republic was most vulnerable. We were literally in a Class VI white-water rafting expedition without safety gear. Their leadership and tactical skills kept the raft afloat even as we all needed to be convinced that we were going the right way. Dr. pushed us to examine multiple scenarios. He was super prepared for those meetings. Government’s International Bankers and Lawyers were amazed by his thoroughness, boldness, and ingenuity. We changed the formula many times because Dr. had a different angle on it. They also realised that he was genuine. He was not going to eviscerate the Republic, as Parliament had done with the E levy, leading to a ratings downgrade. He had not forgotten his roots and had not stopped caring for his constituency. After many hair-raising debates, we concluded a deal that enabled us to move forward, everyone feeling bruised, but elated and satisfied that we all had done our best for the Republic and the Unions.

Dr.’s humour sustained these meetings. He hated coming to the third floor of the Ministry of Finance, as invariably, the elevator was out of service, and he had to walk up the stairs and he was not a small man.

Dr. reminds me of Ibsen’s quote: ‘The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone’. He was not afraid to stand most alone. He possessed an unwavering determination to keep the concerns of union members at the forefront, even as he promoted building consensus on far-reaching transformation and development issues for the Republic.

Dr. is, for me, one of the Greatest of the union ‘Comrades’ and ranks with the hallowed levels of Tetagah, Appiah-Adjei, Adu – Amankwah, Asamoah, and Dr. Baah. With due humility, he receives the honour of the Purple Heart from me. And hopefully the nation will decorate him posthumously. He is a man who dedicated his time, talent, and treasure to promoting and preserving the rights of workers. As a true patriot, he was ‘bold to defend’ Ghana and ‘cherished fearless honesty’. But most of all, he worked ‘as if working for the Lord’. So, Dr., in solemn and deep respect for who you were: authentic, Enigmatic, and a true Patriot. You served your union, nation, and lived God’s given purpose for your life.

Ayikoo. Oyi wala don. Damrifa Due, Due, Due.