The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of reneging on good promises it made to Ghanaian workers, thus creating a status quo of fear and panic among workers.
In its assessment, the Minority said after taking over power, the Akufo-Addo-led government has to “a large extent limited the free friendly worker environment” workers enjoyed.
“As a democratic society, we continue to witness unfortunately obscene mass worker transfers, forced resignations, politically motivated ‘proceed on leave’ directives and unlawful termination of engagements within the public and civil service under the President Nana Akufo-Addo leadership,” the Minority said in a statement to mark May Day on Monday.
It accused the government of presiding over rising cost of living, increases in transport fares by 15%, high cost of utility bills, non-improvement in electric power supply and stagnating worker wages and salaries.
below is the Minority’s full statement
STATEMENT BY THE NDC MINORITY IN PARLIAMNET IN COMMEMORATION OF MAY DAY
Today marks another important milestone for the working class of our society. We the minority in Parliament in line with the May Day Celebration, join other stakeholders to salute the Ghanaian worker on this day and to urge them to continue to make Ghana work as never before. We commend you (the workforce of Ghana) for your tireless, hard work and tenacity of purpose in spite of the odds and challenges that confront you in your line of duty.
The workers’ front in the recent past has demonstrated its capabilities in freedom and dignity, proving their wealth in a well motivated atmosphere and achieving results without intimidation or fear from any quarters.
While we implore you, the workforce of Ghana to persist in your daily services that have kept our beloved country as a functioning economy through sweat and hard work, we are also apprehensive about recent happenings in our country that threaten the values we hold dear since the Nana Addo’s Presidency was ushered into office in January 2017.
It is sad to note that elements associated with this current administration attacked public institutions, forced out workers of these institutions and in many instances physically assaulted these lawful employees all in the name of ‘political takeovers.
This situation has created fear and panic among the Ghanaian work force and to a large extent limiting the free friendly worker environment that existed before the change of government on 7th January, 2017.
As a democratic society, we continue to witness unfortunately obscene mass worker transfers, forced resignations, politically motivated ‘proceed on leave’ directives and unlawful termination of engagements within the public and civil service under the President Nana Akufo-Addo leadership.
However, on 1st May, 2016, then opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a statement to workers on the day, confidently assured the very opposite to the malaise the labour front in Ghana is currently experiencing. At the time he said within a short space of time, the Ghanaian worker will experience improved wages, reduced cost of living, increased job opportunities, with a value addition in industrialisation to create jobs with good pay across Ghana, while maintaining a safe and peaceful worker environment necessary for the progressive programmes and policies that the NPP have for the people of Ghana.
The question is can the Ghanaian worker feel the signs of realising these promises made by President Nana Akuffo Addo a year ago in the midst of current rising cost of living, increases in transport fares by 15%, high cost of utility bills, non-improvement in electric power supply and stagnating worker wages and salaries.
Sadly, the disheartening signs we see and feel today include threat of 26,589 lawful employees who are on the verge of losing their salaries for failure of not being captured onto the SSNIT Biometric Register through no faults of theirs as well as recent demonstrations by trainee nurses over a freeze on their employment by the Nana Addo Government.
As the Minority in Parliament, we are in strong solidarity with the labour front in pressurising the NPP government to ensuring that the liberties of the Ghanaian worker is not infringed upon, while cooperating with all efforts targeted at improved cost of living and the dignity of the Ghanaian workforce.
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