Former Deputy Minister for Education, John Ntim Fordjour
Former Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has questioned the apparent inconsistency in organized labour’s decision to agree to a 10% salary increment after negotiations with the government.
In a post on X on Thursday, February 20, 2025, the MP highlighted a stark contrast in labour’s responses to salary hikes offered by former President Nana Akufo-Addo and current President John Dramani Mahama, accusing some unions of pursuing a “stomach agenda” driven by political bias.
His post, which included a chart detailing salary increments under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from 2017 to 2024, pointed out that in 2024, Akufo-Addo’s government offered public sector workers a 25% salary increment. However, this move was met with fierce opposition, including threats of strike action from organized labour, who deemed the increase insufficient amid economic hardships.
In contrast, Ntim Fordjour noted, President Mahama’s recent announcement of a 10% salary increase for public sector workers, effective March 1, 2025, has been warmly received by a section of organized labour, with some unions even defending the modest hike as “reasonably acceptable.”
“In 2024, Akufo-Addo offered all public sector workers a 25% salary increment. Yet, a section of organized labour threatened strike action and was up in arms. Today, Mahama offers the same public sector workers a paltry 10% increase in salary. Meanwhile, a section of organized labour has welcomed this wholeheartedly, while some unions have further turned themselves into government spokesmen, justifying why Mahama’s 10% is reasonably acceptable. What has changed? Are we not in the same economy? Eiii stomach agenda nkoaa!” he wrote.
The chart accompanying his post showed varying increments under the NPP, ranging from 10% in 2019 to a high of 30% in 2023, with 2024 split into 23% (January-June) and 25% (July-December), excluding additional allowances approved during the NPP’s tenure.
On February 20, 2025, the Mahama administration, through negotiations with organized labour and associations, approved a 10% wage increase for public sector employees.
The decision, personally overseen by President Mahama, follows a 23% increase in 2024 under the Akufo-Addo administration, which aimed to cushion workers against economic challenges but failed to quell labour unrest.
During the negotiations, President Mahama made a passionate appeal to labour to bear with the government for failing to meet their demands. The president cited a struggling economy left by his predecessor and promised better conditions in the future.
In 2024, Akufo-Addo offered all public sector workers 25% salary increment. Yet a section of organized labour threatened strike action and were up in arms. Today, Mahama offers same public sector workers a paltry 10% increase in salary. Meanwhile, a section of organized labour… pic.twitter.com/cFE7O3B1xb
— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) February 20, 2025
GA/EK
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