Josiah
The Minority in Parliament has condemned the government’s decision to increase public sector salaries by nine percent, describing it as a betrayal of Ghanaian workers already burdened by rising living costs.
In a statement signed by Mavis Nkansah Boadu, Ranking Member on the Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions Committee, the Minority said the increment was “economically inadequate” and demonstrated insensitivity to the daily struggles of ordinary workers.
“Transport fares, utility tariffs, fuel prices, and the general cost of goods and services have all risen sharply in the past ten months,” the statement noted. “Inflation continues to erode incomes while the cedi remains unstable. In such a situation, a mere nine percent increase is not only insignificant but unfair.”
The group contrasted the new adjustment with previous increments under the same administration, pointing out that public sector workers received an average 24 percent raise in 2024, about 30 percent in 2023, and double-digit increases in earlier years.
“The drop from double-digit adjustments to a single-digit increment signals a broken promise to workers,” the Minority said, adding that the government managed higher pay rises even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when economic conditions were far more challenging.
They further accused the government of inconsistency, arguing that it “cannot continue to tax more, borrow more, spend more, and then pay workers less.”
The Minority urged the government to return to the negotiation table with Organized Labour and propose a more realistic salary adjustment that reflects inflation and the current cost of living. Anything short of that, they warned, would amount to “economic injustice” against Ghanaian workers.
The statement reaffirmed the Minority’s commitment to “speaking for the voiceless and protecting the welfare of workers,” emphasizing that public policy must be anchored on fairness, equity, and sustainability.
Source:Omanghana.com
