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Headquarters of the Trade Union Congress in Accra
Some public sector workers in Tema called on Tuesday for a rapid downward revision of the wages and emoluments of section 71 office holders to reflect the country’s current economic situation.
Public sector workers noted that “the current state of the economy given the challenges of COVID-19 makes it appropriate to call on Article 71 office holders to sacrifice themselves for the generality of Ghanaians.”
In a random interview, some of the public sector workers suggested that the salaries and emoluments of Section 71 office holders should be reduced by 50 percent, which would represent huge savings for the nation while the wages of workers increased between 25 and 50 percent to fill the shortfall in pay.
Madame Catherine Dagadu, a social worker told the Ghanaian news agency in Tema that “the politicians claimed that they wanted to serve the Ghanaians, that is why they are running for office, but unfortunately their actions in power suggest that they do not serve us but themselves, it is a mistake that must be corrected ”.
“The incumbents of political officers created a class society and labeled it Article 71 Office holders, through which they secured themselves huge sums of money at the expense of the ordinary worker.
“The same people after setting themselves huge wages turn around and call on workers to tighten their belts, how is it that only the worker should suffer, now they are giving car loans to parliamentarians among others,” he said. she noted.
Mr. Robert Oduro Mensah, who has spent more than 25 years in the civil service, noted that the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) has let down the Ghanaian worker, “you are not going to the bargaining table and do not allow the government to intimidate you with threats. layoffs and come out with virtually nothing in hand.
“The Ghanaian worker has suffered for years, we must claim our due, it is time for unions to work together to demand our legitimate compensations and not pocket wages, unions must use their power,” he said .
Mr. James Owusu Appiah, a medical doctor, also called on unions to maximize their collective power to negotiate better and improved wages for workers.
“Besides low wages and other allowances, most civil servants are forced to work in a bad environment, with outdated tools, some even use colonial tables and chairs while Section 71 office holders live in the city. ‘abundance in the office, cars, at home all of the same public treasury which they believe cannot provide for the needs of the worker, “he said.
Other workers also expressed the same sentiments and called on the TUC and other unions to immediately reopen wage negotiations for 2021.
According to the 1992 Constitution, Article 71 office holders include the President, Vice-President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice and Supreme Court justices.
Others are deputies, ministers of state, politicians and civil servants whose salaries are charged to the Consolidated Fund but enjoy special constitutional privileges.
Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary paid out of the Consolidated Fund would be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of at most five people appointed by it and acting on the advice of the Council of State.
To determine the salaries of the President, his ministers and political representatives, as well as members of the Council of State, the Constitution stipulates that Parliament will determine this on the basis of the opinion of the same committee.
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