The Trade Unions Congress (TUC), has called on government to give public sector workers a 20% cost of living allowance (COLA).

According to the the TUC, this will help better the lot of public sector workers across the country.

Speaking at this year’s May Day Celebration at the Black Star Square, the General Secretary of the TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah, also called for

an overhaul of government’s single spine salary structure, removal of petroleum taxes and an increase in the minimum wage to bring

relief to the public sector workforce.

“I will like to conclude with a very very special request to you. Given the rising cost of living, we will like to humbly appeal to you,

to use your executive powers to grant a cost of living allowance of at least 20% to all public service workers.

I will like to appeal to you, to use your executive powers to grant a COLA of at least 20% to all public sector workers.

Here, I’m not talking only about those on single spine. I’m also talking about the Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Prison Service,

the Immigration Service, the Fire Service and all the security and intelligence agencies. The cost of living allowance must also be extended

to workers in the private sector who’re earning just GH¢365 per month”, he stated.

He also added that, “We also expect that this will be extended to all those pensioners on the SSNIT scheme who’re earning just GH¢300 a month.

Mr. President, this will not only cushion workers and pensioners from the harsh effects of inflation. But even more importantly, it will prevent

mass poverty in this country amongst the working people, who’re contributing so much to the development of our country”.

Dr. Baah reiterated the increasing cost of living in the country, and wondered why Ghanaians continue to suffer, despite the country’s assets.

“Mr. President, Ghanaians are suffering too much. This is not the country that was envisaged by our leaders who fought with their tears and

blood to gain independence for us.

God has endowed us gold, diamond, forest, ocean, oil and other resources, therefore nothing can justify the high incidents

of severe poverty, destitution and suffering in Ghana today, 65 years today.

It is obvious to us that the numerous IMF programmes in Ghana did not work. It is also clear to us that the partisan approach

to dealing with Ghana’s problems is not working”, he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the welfare of workers, President Akufo-Addo has revealed that a technical committee has been set up

by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to review the Single Spine Pay Policy.

According to him, this review is expected to give the government answers on whether or not the policy is living up to expectations.

Speaking at the May Day ceremony on Sunday, May 1, he stated that “I am also happy to announce that following the National

Labour Conference at Kwahu, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and its tripartite partners have set up, as of

Tuesday, 26th April, a technical committee to review the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP), and advise Government accordingly”.

This year’s May Day celebration was held under the theme, “Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond”.

President Akufo-Addo stated that the government is expecting the report on the review in July, 2021.

This, he believes, “will help us put an end to most of the unrest we see on the labour front involving public sector workers”.

The Single Spine Pay Policy was introduced by the Government of Ghana and implemented in 2010 to regulate the payment

of public service workers, especially those under Article 190 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana

They include public sector employees in the Civil Service, the Judicial Service, the Audit Service, the Ghana Education Service,

the Ghana Health Service, the Parliamentary Service, the National Fire Service, Ghana Revenue Authority, the Local Government Service,

the Police Service, and the Prisons Service, workers in non-profit public corporations, statutory public services excluding public services

such as the Parliament.The policy has however suffered some challenges.

In a review by Bossman E. Asare of the University of Ghana and Dennis Mpere, some of these challenges included a high public expectation,

dissatisfaction with the grading structure by some workers and inadequate financial and human resources facing the

Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC). Others are; inadequate education, conditions of service and allowances for workers.

President Akufo-Addo’s comment comes after some government workers over the past few months embarked on strike actions over conditions of service. 

The recent strike action is by the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG).

They went on strike on Thursday, April 21 over the nonpayment of the neutrality allowance.

They argued that despite official reminders and follow-ups, payment of the Neutrality Allowance has not been effected as agreed.

Meanwhile, aside from the review of the Single Spine Pay Policy, President Akufo-Addo said, to protect the jobs of members of organised, his office and key

stakeholders are fashioning out the right policies to protect jobs and income.

They include the rollout of employment benefits, and retraining of workers among others.

President Akufo-Addo has urged workers to work hard to increase productivity to enable government increase

salary levels and provide the basis for paying a ‘Living Wage’. He said this as part of his May Day message to workers.

This year’s May Day celebration was held under the theme, “Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 and Beyond.”

Delivering the address on Sunday, May 1, 2022, the President acknowledged that there are notable challenges

in the living conditions of the Ghanaian worker which need to be addressed.

He stated that the government is working to ensure these conditions improve, however, it behooves

workers to also do their part to ensure more revenue mobilised for the state.

“I will be the first to admit that conditions of service, in the wider public service, need improvement

[however] Government is currently confronted by very tight financing conditions in the wake of inadequate domestic revenue mobilisation.

“I have also acknowledged on several occasions that we are in difficult times, and the government has not thrown

its hands in despair and it is not looking for an easy way out. On the contrary, we are working hard to address the

current situation and those that relate to improving the quality of life for all Ghanaians.”

He added that improving the living conditions of the Ghanaian worker “should be done within budgetary

constraints to ensure that we do not put excessive pressure on our public finances.”

Source: Jessie Ola-Morris 

Ghanaian workers have joined many across the world to celebrate this year’s May Day.

May Day which is also known as International Labour Day is used to commemorate the hard work of workers

and to call for better working conditions At 0800 hours on Sunday various worker groups were gathered at the

Blackstar Square for the celebration The theme for this year's celebration in Ghana is:

'Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond.

May Day which is also known as International Labour Day is used to commemorate the hard work of workers and to call for better working conditions

At 0800 hours on Sunday various worker groups were gathered at the Blackstar Square for the celebration

The theme for this year's celebration in Ghana is: 'Protecting Jobs and Incomes in the era of Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond."

GNAT will bring you updates on our various social media platforms.

The National Officers of GNAT made donations to selected schools and teachers in the Volta and Oti Regions during the maiden National Officers Tour 2022.

In order to aide the work of teachers in coastal communities particularly access to their places of work, the National President presented life jackets to the following Districts on behalf of the Association ; Jasikan/Biakoye (20), Nkwanta (34) and Krachi East (60).

An amount of five thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC5,000.00) each was also donated to two (2) ailing members, Madam Janet Addy of Tapa Abotoase DA JHS and Madam Joycelyn Atikpo of Kpalexorse DA Basic School respectively.
In addition, a Local which requested for football kits to assist them in organizing games were given assorted football kits at Ho.

The team also visited Volta School for the Deaf in Hohoe to interact with children with various forms of disabilities. The Headmaster of the school received three (3) bags of flour, four (4) cartons of tomato paste, and one (1) polytank water storage tank on behalf of the school.

The team also visited Fuveme DA Basic school where they interacted with leaders of the Community as well as the School Management.The National President expressed his disappointment over the conditions under which teachers are working. He praised the teachers for sacrificing to teach in extremely deprive community where there is no electricity and health post. The school was given five thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC5,000) to reconstruct its damaged infrastructure which occurred during tidal waves distractions in some parts of the Volta Region. The Anloga District Director of Education who received the cash amount on behalf of the school thanked the GNAT hierarchy for remembering the School. 

The purpose of the National Officers tour of the Volta Region was to thank the membership of GNAT for electing them into office.

Staff and Pupils of Fuveme DA Basic with the GNAT team

National Officers ready to leave Fuveme Community

District Director of Education handing over GHC5,000.00 cash donation to the Headmaster 

The National President and his team handing over items to Volta School for the Deaf

 Some teachers posing with the life jackets at Jasikan/Biakoye District

The newly elected National Officers of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) embarked on a tour of the Volta Region from Sunday 27th of March 2022 to Saturday, 2nd April, 2022.

The delegation was led by the National President Rev. Isaac Owusu and the General Secretary, Mr. Thomas Tanko Musah.
They were accompanied by some officers from the GNAT Headquarters and political officers from the host Region.

The tour also attracted representatives of the Regional Directors of Education in the Volta and Oti Regions among others.

The National President speaking at various durbars thanked the delegates and the general membership of the association for reposing their confidence in them by electing them to lead the Union for the next four (4) years. He called for unity within the Union.

He reminded members that internal GNAT elections are over hence all members must work together as a team.

He also explained that with unity, no politician can undermine the Association. He advised members to take the Code of Ethics of the teaching profession serious.

The General Secretary, Mr. Thomas Tanko Musah encouraged members to trust the leadership. He emphasised that the composition of the GNAT leadership is made up of people with integrity and they must be supported. He took time to explain controversies surrounding the TM1 laptop and other related issues on the labour front.

The team interacted with teachers from Krachi West, Krachi East, Nkwanta, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Hohoe, Kpando, South Dayi, Adidome, Akatsi, Keta, South Tongu, Ketu and Ho. Over 3,158 teachers participated in the tour.

The National Executive of GNAT says they are disappointed in the response of the G.E.S on the rent saga. In a statement signed by the National President on behalf of the National Executive, the G.E.S was reminded that the relationship between the employer and the employees is regulated by the Collective Agreement. Therefore hiding under an old directive of the Ministry of Finance and admonishment from Public Accounts Committee of Parliament violates the Labour Act 651 and the Collective Agreement. Read more.....