NAGRAT boycotts National Labour Conference; says it’s not worth it

The National Association of Graduate Teachers, NAGRAT, says its decision not to attend the National Labour Conference is based on its conviction that the meeting was not meant to salvage the hardships facing the ordinary government employee.

President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu says, although the group was invited, it did not honor it over concerns it will yield no positive results.

According to him, they think the conference is not a true reflection of the problems that confront them and looking at the nature of these challenges that have to do with skyrocketing prices, dwindling values of their real incomes, difficult economic situations that have bedeviled them as workers, unstable pensions, they do not think this is the time to be holding press conferences.

Speaking to the media, he added that, is time for labour leaders and government to sit down and find practical solutions that are addressing the work situations in relation to price hikes, simply increasing workers’ emoluments and salaries and payment of it timorously, so he don’t think they must be engaged in a meeting for romantic talks, but the time has come to face the issues and address them to the wherewithal of the Ghanaian worker.

The government on Monday, February 28, 2022 opened a two-day National Labour Conference under the auspices of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and its Tripartite Constituents.

The event is being organized at Kwahu-Nkwatia in the Eastern Region under the theme, “Strengthening Tripartism for Peaceful Labour Relations and Resilient Economy”, to shape conversations on the labour front.

Issues that are dominating the discussions include the state of the economy, conditions of service of public sector workers, public sector salaries, labour productivity, labour dispute prevention and resolution, and sustainable pensions for all.

….ANGEL CARBONU….

 

Our members are very furious-UG-UTAG

University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) are still adamant to return back to the classroom.

The University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana earlier resolved not to comply with the Business and Executive Committee’s schedule for teaching and learning.

Secretary for UG-UTAG, Prof. Ransford Gyampo speaking to the media said, though they are not interested in embarking on strike hence pleading to their members to suspend the strike.

According to him, the chapter decision not to resume teaching and learning is in anticipation the trust deficit between UTAG and government, members indicated their preference to see the outcome of the talks/engagement (not negotiations) initiated by the government to resolve the impasse (which is expected to end on March 4, 2022), before they return to the classroom.

He added that, they are not ready to fight the National Executive Council (NEC) because they have the same goal in ensuring that, their demands are met by the government.

He noted that, they will have to suspend their strike to ensure that, something good will come from the next meeting with the government.

He revealed that, though they are not afraid of the management but will continue to appeal to their members to adhere to the suspension of their strike until they meet government on Friday.

….PROF. GYAMPO…..

 

 

 

 

Govt reacts to claims salaries may not be paid within next 3 months

Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. John Kumah has refuted claims by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin that, Government may not be able to pay salary for the next three months.

The Speaker attributes this to what he says is information at his disposal.

Making the revelation on the floor of the Parliament, the Speaker called on MPs to show leadership in these difficult times.”

“This is not to discourage the committee from doing their work. If something is not done within the next three months, the government may not be able to pay salaries.”

Against this backdrop, Mr Bagbin urged the MPs to exhibit leadership towards forestalling any difficulty including remuneration.

 “So we have to take leadership. We have to do a lot of things,” the Speaker said.

But the Ejisu lawmaker speaking to the media said, “It is not true. Even when COVID-19 hit us hard, and we were struggling as a country, we still managed to pay all public workers on time”.

According to him, though government is capable of paying salaries but there are other infrastructural developments that the government needs to pay.

.…JOHN KUMA…..

 

 

 

NDC have sworn to make the government unpleasantly for Ghanaians- NPP

Deputy Communications’ Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jennifer Oforiwaa Queen has lambasted the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following their petition they have written to the Commonwealth Secretariat to investigate and subsequently sanction the current administration over what the party calls bad governance and abuse of human rights.

According to the NDC, the petition is to draw the attention of the international body to instances of abuse of the judiciary, political persecutions, and abuse of human rights.

“Since assuming the reins of power in 2016, the message of physical violence against political opponents that Nana Addo preached and championed before the 2016 general elections has turned into structural, institutional and systematic forms of violence in the form of human rights violations, harassment, and political persecutions against members and supporters of the NDC,” General Secretary for NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah disclosed.

But Jennifer Oforiwaa Queen speaking to the media said, the NDC has sworn to do everything to ensure that, the NPP government becomes unpleasantly for Ghanaians.

According to her, the NDC is trying to drive investors away from the country hence urging Ghanaians to open their eyes and see the mindset of them.

She added that, the NDC have been able to convinced Ghanaians to hate the NPP government noting that, they are only ensuring that, the rules and regulations deal with any perpetrators.

She revealed that, President Akufo Addo was not the one who made the arrest on Oliver Barker-Vormawor but rather the security personals following his coup statement.

….QUEEN OFORIWAA…..

 

Council of State engages Majority Caucus

The Standing Committee of the Council of State yesterday held talks with the leadership of the Majority Caucus in Parliament to discuss ways the two sides of Parliament can work together to foster a firm harmonious working relationship and consensus-building in the House.

The meeting allowed the council to engage in frank and candid deliberations with the Majority group on ways to “quell the high temperature” that has come to characterize deliberations in Parliament due to the introduction of E-levy.

Much like the earlier meeting between the council and the Minority Caucus last week, yesterday’s talks paved the way for the Majority Members of Parliament (MPs) to share, from their viewpoint, the challenges militating against smooth deliberations in Parliament.

Led by the Chairman of the Council State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, the meeting was a follow-up to an earlier one the council had with the leadership of the Minority group in Parliament, led by the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, last Wednesday.

Addressing the press ahead of the closed-door meeting, Nana Siriboe said since the inauguration of the Eighth Parliament, Ghanaians had been fed with unpalatable news from the House.

Majority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu speaking to the media today said, the motive behind the meeting was to bring peace between the Majority and Minority in the Parliament house.

According to him, the escalation of tension in Parliament was bringing the hard-won image of Ghana into disrepute.

.…KYEI MENSAH….