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31.05.2023 Social News

IMF conditions: Concentrate on the political class and live organised labour alone —Prof Gyampo advises gov’t

IMF conditions: Concentrate on the political class and live organised labour alone —Prof Gyampo advises govt
31.05.2023 LISTEN

Professor Ransford Gyampo, the General Secretary of the University of Ghana’s Teachers’ Association (UG-UTAG) has said government's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cut public sector wages and increase productivity will not be possible.

According to Professor Ransford Gyampo, the conditionality is merely another means by the Akufo-Addo government to impose hardship on labour while the political class continue to enjoy their lavish lifestyle.

He is of the view that calls for the government to directly link wage increment to productivity, though sane argument, it should be applicable to all sectors and not only to labour.

He asserted that Ghana's political class is undeserving of their fat benefits for their little to nothing done to merit such rewards and positions of power.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Prof. Gyampo rejected the conditionality insisting that it is unfair to organised labour.

“I don’t accept that. Why should they always be targeting labour? It is true, I mean, in every sane economy, compensation should be linked to productivity. But if that is the case, then it should be across board. The politicians, what do they do to earn the amounts of salaries and emoluments and allowances that they get? Can you compare their productivity, what they do, to the productivity of the ordinary labour? I mean, if we want to do that then let it be across board.

“I see a party communicator who just got done with school, hasn’t worked before and his first pay check was given to him or her simply because he joined a political party in the lead-up to electioneering campaign and fought for the party, the party won and so he’s given a V8, he draws free fuel, he’s been given a mansion, he’s enjoying huge allowances and fat salaries and the next two-three years he’s building huge mansion at the expense of the people.

“What do they do to get themselves entitled to those allowances and incentives and conditions of services salaries? Is it productivity? So we reward people who do nothing and get a lot of resources in terms of salary, and then those who toil, those who through their toil we’ve been able to finance the enjoyment and entertainment and the largesse and luxuries that they enjoy, they always want to continue to inflict austerity measures on them," he stated.

He added, “I mean, that is not fair. You see, that’s how come this particular conditionality in my view will not fly.”

Sebastian Sedekah Akaho-Tay
Sebastian Sedekah Akaho-Tay

News ReporterPage: SebastianSedekahAkahoTay

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