The Lie Detector Has Caught You again, Mr. Seth Terkper.

On 15th May 2014, Mr. Seth Terkper, the Minister of Finance emerged on air to deny reports that government would only pay three months of the salary arrears it owes workers irrespective of the number of months owed. (See 'all arrears will be paid in full-Govt assures'-Thursday 15th May, 2014)

The Minister stressed that such report had no iota of truth and that the move was 'part of government's measures to improve and control the management of the payroll and ensure that only deserving staff are paid genuinely earned salary arrears.

To sum up his statement, the Minister issued a directive to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in November 2013 stipulating the procedure for payment of arrears. This stated that the ministry would pay an initial three months' salary arrears to beneficiaries i.e new entrants, promoted, upgrade, re-engaged/reinstated staff and the remaining arrears would be paid after the filling and submission Payment of Salary Arrears forms through the sector ministries and subsequently to the Ministry of Finance for payment.

Contrary to Mr. Terkper's promise, the salary arrears have not been paid after almost two years of filling and the submission of such forms. To worsen the situation for innocent public sector workers, most of the have not even received the meagre three months' salary arrears as promised.

Honorable Minister, we all know that talk is cheap but walking the talk is not as cheap as the talk so my humble appeal is that before you emerge out of the blue to speak to the unsuspecting public sector workers, prepare to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth because the good book tells us that it is the only thing that can set us free(read John 8:32).

Last year, the lie detector did a good job. It told me of how you threw dust into the eyes of unsuspecting public sector workers. Most of them who fortunately had some drops in their pots had major disparities. There was a great mismatch between their gross salary arrears and their net salary arrears. I understand that this mismatch has more to do with the Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD), but I also know that it has its roots from you.

I am always not convinced whenever you speak simply because the lie detector signals me always of an imminent intentionally false statement.

This morning, 23rd July 2015, the lie detector in my room signalled me again when you made another promise. What was the promise Sir? Yeah-that newly appointed teachers will be paid salaries in advance.

What does the phrase 'advance payment' mean in this case? Could you please explain that phrase quickly before Mr. Wikipedia tells me? Yes, I mean what does 'advance payment' mean?

Maybe I would have to consider summoning all newly appointed public sector workers. I could probably inform them about how unreliable the system has been made.

But Honorable Minister, please, tell us the truth by answering this question: is our arrears going to be paid? I pray that you pay us the arrears before you make any fresh promise to unsuspecting victims. But if you continue on this path of unending and unfulfilled promises, then my lie detector will have a great deal of task to perform every day.

Mr. Minister, we need a reliable system that will make workers committed to their work. The kind of unfavourable and unreliable environment you are creating will not in any way augur well for the nation's development. The nation is almost wrecked because public sector workers have been taken too much for granted.

Make public sector workers feel that they belong. A lot of people are wailing at this high degree of insensitivity and want it nibbed in the bud. So if you want our country to be lively then fulfill your promises.

All we are asking for is summed up in five words: Pay us our arrears now!

But Sir, these are just the thoughts of an ordinary Ghanaian.

I wish you the very best in that sensitive ministry.