Accra, May 1, Ghanadot/GNA- President
John Evans Atta Mills on Friday announced that progress had been
made on discussions on the Single Spine pay structure, and
Government was studying a report submitted by a Technical Team
on the pay policy for further action.
Also, Government is providing funds and logistics
to the Fair Wages Salaries Commission to execute its
mandate, in anticipation of the Single Spine pay structure.
“Let me assure you that that the Single Spine Pay Policy remains
high on our agenda,” President Mills said, as he addressed a
parade of Ghanaian workers at the Independence Square, in Accra,
on the occasion of this year’s celebration of May Day.
The celebration was observed on the theme: “Improved Standard of
Living Through Decent Work and Pre-requisite for Sustaining
Democratic Governance,” with workers at the parade holding
placards with messages that mainly called on Government and
captains of industries to improve on the working conditions of
Ghanaian workers.
President Mills said the Government’s social contract with
Ghanaians was built on the firm belief
that the people had a right to decent and well-paid jobs.
The President said the Government was assessing past and current
programmes, the ‘Youth in Agriculture Programme’ and National
Youth Employment Programme’ and doing the necessary
re-engineering that would make them respond to present needs.
He reiterated Government’s commitment to creating jobs in the
economic and productive sectors such as Agriculture, Trade and
Industry and Tourism.
“Through our programme of expanding infrastructure in the areas
of housing, public works, construction of dams and the
construction of roads, we hope to provide more job opportunities
to both skilled and unskilled labour.
Government is putting in place support mechanisms support
mechanisms to ensure the environment remains friendly to both
old and new investors by way of proper legislation as well as
improving the public utilities delivery,” President Mills said.
The President reiterated Government’s premium making sure that
living standards were significantly improved, especially the
rural and urban poor, with a lot of attention being given to
improving access to social services.
“We are introducing a range of social protection schemes in line
with our social democracy philosophy.
We are providing security to the informal sector, caring for the
disabled as evidenced by the establishment of
the Disability Council, and making sure that people
living with AIDS are not discriminated against,” the President
announced.
Government, he said, was in the process of providing free school
uniforms and free textbooks to, at least one million needy
school children, in the area of agriculture had already provided
50 per cent relief on the cost of fertilizer, and had also
approved a sum of GHC 7.5 million for the continuation of the
Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme.
President Mills noted the likely dwindling donor support,
decline in trade, reduced remittances and investment in the
economy due to the global economic downturn, and said, “we in
Ghana must work out our own homegrown solutions that will enable
us weather the economic down turn and enhance our capacity to
provide social protection for people facing the brunt of
poverty.”
Aside the global crisis, President Mills observed that the
management of the economy over the past several years had left
the a lot to be desired, adding that the economy the present
administration inherited was a far cry from what was described
as “robust and resilient economy.”
President Mills said the solutions to the challenges that the
nation faced laid not in constant argument or holding out the
begging bowl, and called for partisanship to be put aside and
deal with the real issues.
“I am interested in practical outcomes and will continue to
stress on the need for all Ghanaians to work together for the
common good,” the President said.
President Mills said Government would not hesitate to review
legislation and agreement to ensure that Ghanaians were not
shortchanged in the midst of the circumstances surrounding the
global economic crunch.
Consequently, Government has directed a review of the pension
act passed last year, bearing in mind the lessons of how
deregulation in the financial has brought the world virtually on
its knees.
Also, Government is critically examining all protocols and
agreement, such as the Economic Partnership Agreement, and would
seek advice and inputs from all key players in industry,
including employers and unions before taking a decision on the
matter, the President said.
President Mills congratulated Ghanaians workers on their
hardwork, and re-echoed the belief of Government of organized
labour as an indispensable partner on creating better lives for
Ghanaians.
He said despite occasional disagreements, Government would not
be found wanting where truth and sincerity were concerned.
GNA
