BA Workers Blast Government


Members of NAGRAT at the parade
Workers in the Brong-Ahafo Region used the May Day celebration to express their frustration with the current Mahama administration over its poor management of Ghana’s economy.

Hundreds of workers, who joined the Regional May Day Rally at the Golden City Park in Berekum on Thursday, chanted songs to depict the harsh economic conditions.

During the event, which was under the theme: ‘Ghana’s Economy, a Concern for All,’ the workers chanted songs and carried placards some of which read, ‘Yabre, Yakatua Esua,’ ‘Tweaaa! Minimum Wage Is Too Small,’ and ‘Teachers Want Incentives.’

The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Kofi Asamoah, admonished government to lead the nation from poverty to prosperity, stating that it is a well known fact that wages in the nation are low in both absolute and relative terms.

In an address read on his behalf by the Brong-Ahafo Regional Secretary of TUC, Jacob Bofa, Mr. Asamoah said the nation is however beginning to see some improvement in public sector pay levels with the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy.

According to him, the Single Spine Pay Policy has the potential to address the challenges that have bedevilled the public sector salary administration in the nation since independence.

He observed that unfortunately the pay policy has come under incessant attack by party propagandists, who have conveniently decided to attribute all the economic challenges in the nation to its implementation.

Government, he said, announced in Parliament that it was considering a moratorium on the public sector pay this year.

He noted that government rescind its decision when TUC reacted.

‘After very intense consultations, discussion and negotiation in the last three days, the social partners have come to understand that workers should be adequately cushioned from the harsh economic realities we are currently facing in the country. Agreement to this effect is due to be signed and announced,’ he continued.

Touching on the Oil and Gas Service Freeport to be built at Atuabo, Mr. Asamoah noted that the construction of the port will not only violate the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) Act 160 of 1986 (PNDCL 160), which gives GPHA the sole authority to plan, build, manage, maintain, operate and control ports but undermine national sovereignty and security.

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FROM Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako & Richmond Acheampong, Berekum

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