President John Dramani Mahama has assured of his authorities’s dedication to enhancing wages and restoring hope in Ghanaian employees.
“This authorities below my leadership is the federal government you may have been ready for. We won’t solely enhance wages however restore hope and confidence within the Ghanaian workforce,” he said.
The President was talking on the 2025 National Could Day Parade on the Independence Sq. in Accra yesterday, on the theme “Resetting Pay and Working Circumstances in Ghana: The Position of Stakeholders.”
He additionally pledged to prioritise well timed wage funds, modernised office environments, enhanced occupational well being and security insurance policies, well timed pension contributions, and the reform of Ghana’s “distorted” pension system by way of an advert hoc stakeholder committee.
President Mahama mentioned the federal government was dedicated to strengthening technical and vocational coaching, with higher alignment to business wants, and selling equitable nationwide development throughout all corners of the nation.
President Mahama paid glowing tribute to Ghanaian employees throughout all sectors, describing them as “the spine of Ghana’s future” and “true architects of our restoration.”
President Mahama assured Ghanaian employees that his administration wouldn’t privatise the Electrical energy Firm of Ghana (ECG), regardless of the entity’s GH¢68 billion debt, however will relatively pursue strategic public-private partnerships to inject effectivity into electrical energy distribution.
He acknowledged the pressing have to reform ECG and different struggling state-owned enterprises, a lot of which he mentioned have been “atrociously managed” over the previous eight years.
He mentioned “Even corporations like GIHOC Distilleries, which paid dividends below my earlier administration, are actually working at a loss. The query I ask is: how are you going to promote alcohol and be in debt?” he queried.
He outlined a number of important interventions already undertaken in his first months in workplace, together with a ten per cent enhance within the national minimal wage from GH¢18.50 to virtually GH¢20, efficient March 1, 2025 — a transfer he mentioned made regardless of prevailing inflation ranges of 23 per cent.
The President additionally talked about the convening of a historic Nationwide Financial Discussion board in March 2025, which introduced collectively labour, employers, academia, and policymakers to craft a fiscal coverage path for Ghana’s restoration and progress. Additionally, he mentioned a “reset price range” has been introduced to Parliament, prioritising financial stabilisation, productiveness, and job creation.
On jobs, he highlighted key youth-focused initiatives such because the One Million Coders professionalgramme, which goals to coach younger individuals in digital and coding expertise wanted in at present’s job market and has already attracted 150,000 candidates, and the Adwumawura Programme, which goals to create 10,000 youth-led companies and 20,000 jobs yearly.
He additionally talked about the Nationwide Apprenticeship Programme, which seeks to equip 500,000 younger individuals with artisanal expertise over 5 years.
Relating pay fairness, President Mahama introduced plans to ascertain a Everlasting Independent Emoluments Fee as a part of constitutional reforms, with the purpose of resolving what he referred to as “the longstanding and inequitable disparity in public service wage construction,” especially between Article 71 officeholders and different public servants.
President Mahama urged employees in state establishments to talk up towards mismanagement, stressing that they’ve a duty to protectedguard their enterprises. “When issues are going unsuitable, don’t be afraid to say so. As President, I’ll again and assist you to set issues proper.”
On the difficulty of unlawful mining, or galamsey, he reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to accentuate enforcement efforts, stating, “Aluta continua — the battle continues.”
He additional emphasised his dedication to common, structured dialogue between authorities, labour, and enterprise, with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations serving as a hub for tripartite collaboration.
Organised by the commerce unions, the Could Day occasion is held yearly to celebrates employees’ contributions and promotes their rights and higher working circumstances.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
