The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) are urging government to sustain current macro-economic indicators through to the end of the year.
According to the two major labour unions, maintaining economic stability will help ease the cost-of-living pressures that many Ghanaians endured in 2024.
The leadership of the unions shared these concerns in an exclusive interview with 3news’ Labour Affairs Correspondent as the government marks its first seven months in office.
The government, under President John Dramani Mahama is earning praise for its handling of the economy.
With inflation currently hovering around 13 percent and lending rates near 23 percent, analysts say the country is showing signs of recovery after facing significant economic challenges in 2024.
International rating agencies, including Fitch, have also given the government favorable assessments.
But despite the progress, organized labour is urging caution.
The leadership of the TUC and GNAT are asking President Mahama to proceed carefully as the country navigates its economic recovery.
TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, says while government deserves credit for stabilizing the economy, more must be done especially on the issue of illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
“We have commended the President for acting on his words, but the only thing is the galamsey, we are urging the President to actually do what he said, by revoking the legislative instrument on mining, then I will give him a plus,” he said.
The General Secretary of GNAT, Thomas Tanko Musah, also urged the President to stay within budgetary limits to sustain progress made so far.
“The President must thread cautiously, this is not where we want to be, in as much as the President has started well the most important thing is the sustainability- both the micro and the macro-economic stability indicators that are in his favour now, we don’t want to see that by December all these gains have been eroded.”
“Let us be careful with the add-ons we have been doing. For example, the payment of the capitation grant, we have now added the first years of the public universities, we need to be careful with the free, free, free things,” he advised.
Both labour leaders say the government must stay committed to the current growth trajectory to deliver long-term relief to Ghanaians.
