BIOMETRIC REGISTRATION EXERCISE DATA ENTRY CLERKS WANT MORE MONEY

Data Entry clerks working with the Electoral Commission of Ghana in the ongoing Biometric Registration exercise in the Ga West Municipality are set to present a petition to the Electoral Commission stating categorically their remuneration as a major source of grievance to them.

They say that their work is among the most tedious but yet received a meagre pay compared to the other categories of workers in the registration exercise.

“Without discrimination against the other members of the registration team, the works of the Data Entry Clerks are very loaded yet the allowance given to us is not commensurate with the nature of work we do. In the wisdom of the Electoral Commission, three (3) days was allocated for our training which is an admission on the part of the Commission of the difficult nature of the works of the DEC's. We believe that this realization should reflect in their allowance as opposed to the GH¢650 we are being told”, a copy of the petition cited by Focus news states.

According to the petition signed by Lord Percivals Agbavor Jr., the appointment letters given to them “as electoral officers is bereft of some basic and very vital information as names of officials, designation of officials and allowances payable to the officials are not indicated on the appointment letters. Also worth noting is the fact that the letters we were given were not even dated which questions its credibility and authenticity even though it is signed by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Ghana”.

They say as a result of these omissions, they are “attempted to question how much is truly payable to the electoral officers” as the verbal communication they received is very unsatisfactory.

“A publication carried out in a newspaper indicating the monies payable to us is woefully inadequate, an insult on our integrity and does not respect the right of we your hardworking officials”.

They are hence calling on the Electoral Commissioner to come out and clear all doubts concerning how much they are supposed to receive, adding that this is necessary to encourage and motivate officials to undertake similar national assignments and also to avert possible fracas and other acts that may mar the credibility of the December elections.

The petition, copied to Greater Accra Regional Electoral Commission, the Ga West Municipal Electoral Commission as well as the Municipal Chief Executive, Ga West Municipal Assembly, also bore the signatures of fourteen (14) data entry clerks within the municipality.

- Bernard Buachi
Focus FM, Kumasi.