A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, has commended the Labour Minister Ignatius Baffour-Awuah over the 30% pay hike for public sector workers.
The government and Organised Labour on Thursday (12 January) agreed to increase the base pay for 2023 by 30% after several negotiations.
The increment takes effect from 1 January 2023.
Organised Labour had earlier demanded a 60% increment and refused to back down on their demand despite several engagements with the government.
Reacting to the development on Asaase 99.5 Accra’s news analysis show, The Forum, on Saturday (14 January), Addo said the Labour Minister has been exceptional in avoiding unrest in that space.
“If there is one minister who has helped this government to have peace of mind, it is the labour minister,” Addo said. “I think that he is an unsung hero in this particular government. He has been able to make sure that we don’t have labour unrest.”
“I am hoping and praying that the promised amount will be paid out. Let us all keep praying for Nana Addo for wisdom and good health so he and his team can realise all of their plans for Ghanaians.”
“We all are witnesses to the living conditions of our countrymen as it is today, depreciation of the cedi and inflation. What your income could do for you last year, has been devalued by at least 50%. Everything has gone up,” he said.
For her part, the deputy chief executive officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Akosua Manu (Kozie) said the government has demonstrated that it is sensitive to the plight of public sector workers.
“Without a doubt, this is welcome news for public sector workers, and I hope that we will acknowledge the times we are in and see that [the] government has done well,” she said.
“I’m not in the position to speak on how [the] government is going to finance it, but I know that the government will always find a way; government says, and government does, and government will commit to it,” she added.
Below is a video clip of the programme:
Fred Dzakpata
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