Address Ghanaians’ low salaries; freezing pay rises for state officials not the solution – Kofi Amoah

Businessman, Dr Kofi Amoah says the government must take a critical look at the issue of salaries and wages of workers in the country, and work to improve them.

According to him, efforts to address the low level of salaries across the board are more crucial than the government’s decision to freeze salary increments for top officials for this year.

Speaking on The Point of View on Monday he said the current low level of salaries does not help either the Ghanaian worker or the national economy.

President Akufo-Addo, in a national address on the occasion of Workers Day, said all members of the Executive including himself and the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawimia will not see any increase in salaries this year.

He said the decision is to assist the country to recuperate from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have taken the decision to freeze salary increments for this year, 2021 for myself as president, the vice president, ministers, deputy ministers, and all appointees of the executive…It is our modest contribution to reduce the damage to our public revenue and to help hasten our nation’s recovery from the ravages of the pandemic,” he said.

But Dr Amoah believes such an action does not solve the bigger issue of wages and salaries in the country.

“I think it is a good show of concern for the plight of workers but does that solve the problem?  The problem of workers not being paid adequately, that is a much bigger issue. Without the productivity of Ghanaian workers, the Ghanaian economy is not going to grow, it is not going to be expansive, it is not going to produce the wealth that we need to move forward,” he said.

He added that the Executive and the Legislature must take up the issue and ensure that this aspect of the economy is dealt with.

He added that, “the salaries and wages discussion is something that must be embraced by the Executive, by Parliament. We are practising liberal economics but something that is very fundamental to the economy of society, you don’t just talk about it and leave it.”

Dr. Amoah was of the view that the canker of corruption can be addressed if the salaries and wages of Ghanaian workers are improved.

“With all the issues of corruption, there are people, regardless of how much you pay them, corruption will be there, but there are people who are salaried workers and will do what they have to do if you put them in a situation that will make it tempting,” he added.