John Dramani Mahama has asked Organised Labour to tamper their demands for the year amid the economic challenges his administration inherited from the previous government.
He says whilst the political class seem to always loosen its belt whilst others are tightening theirs, the story is not going to be same in his administration.
The President has asked the Finance Minister, to as much as possible, cut wasteful expenditure including that of the government, to ensure they are able to navigate the crumbling economy until things become better.
This was his words to Organised Labour during his meeting with them Thursday, February 20, 2025, to reason with him on their proposed percentage increment for their basic salary.
The Labour unions had made a 60% wage hike proposal to the government who earlier decided to grant 6%. However, upon agreement between the two parties, a 10% increment was settled on, effective March 1, 2025.
He assured them that once things get better, the government will give them their demands.
“I want to assure you that we’re all going to tighten our belts and there will be no wasteful expenditure. It is said that we create and share. And so let’s start cooking the meal now, so that we can share when we have created. But right now, the meal is not only insufficient, the cooking pot is even leaking. And so I just appeal to you that let’s tamper our demands for this year.
“And once we get out of the woods, we’ll set good targets to bring inflation down, so that the cost of everything will come down. We’ll set targets to grow the economy, to make things better. And when the cake is baked and it’s bigger, we’ll share bigger.
“We are proposing an independent emoluments committee that would set the incomes for everybody from the president right down to the ordinary laborer. We are prepared to walk this journey with you, but I just appeal to you that let’s reach agreement on this one, so that we use this year as the year of correction. And then after we’ve corrected, we’ll see how the economy continues to grow.
“Once the economy moves in the direction that we are all hoping for, we all, if we have an independent emoluments committee, maybe if you suggest 35%, I’ll support you because it will affect my pay too,” he told leadership of the labour unions.
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