Ghana president appeals to striking civil workers to resume work

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to striking Civil and Local Government Service Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSSAG) to return to work.

Addressing delegates at the 10th Quadrennial Congress of the Trades Union Congress in Kumasi on Wednesday, President Mahama said any attempt to yield to the demands of CLOGSSAG would throw the country's budget completely off track and make nonsense of the sacrifices it had made together over the last year.

Members of the CLOGSSAG declared a nationwide strike on July 27, contending that since the implementation of the new pay policy, the Single Spine Salary Structure, in 2010, they had neither been paid their interim market premium, additional allowances paid under the pay policy nor migrated onto the permanent market premium.

But Mahama said the government would only consider CLOGSSAG's demands in 2017 since it had resolved not to overspend in an election year.

"I'm happy to note that this year even though it's an election year, expenditure targets are still on track and I intend to stay strictly to the budget and the Appropriations Act as approved by Parliament. And this is why I appeal to CLOGSSAG members to return to work," he said.

"I wish to assure you that it is government's intention to implement a comprehensive policy on payment of premiums starting from next year, and I have asked the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with CLOGSSAG to this effect," said the president.

The leadership of the striking workers have called the bluff of the employment ministry which has warned them to resume work or risk losing their August salaries.

Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of the association, said his members were ready to forfeit their salaries if the government would not consider their concerns. Endit