The report that the single spine pay policy (SSPP) is to undergo a review to address salary inequalities, weak salary administration and management of conditions of service, 14 years after its implementation is one of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Tuesday.
The Graphic reports that the single spine pay policy (SSPP) is to undergo a review to address salary inequalities, weak salary administration and management of conditions of service, 14 years after its implementation.
In line with that, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations will constitute a technical committee by Wednesday to undertake a preliminary review of the pay policy.
The committee will consider the cost implications and advise the government on policy reforms for the implementation of a revised pay policy.
The decision followed recommendations by participants at the second national labour conference at Kwahu Nkwatia in the Eastern Region which was opened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The two-day conference, which was on the theme: “Strengthening tripartism for building peaceful relations and a resilient economy”, sought to reinforce a tripartite conversation on the dynamics and happenings on the labour front for coordinated policy responses.
It was attended by more than 200 participants from government institutions, employer organisations, organised labour and representatives from selected establishments.
The newspaper says that the Black Stars of Ghana arrived in the Nigerian Capital of Abuja in high spirits yesterday via a chartered flight, determined to silence their West African neighbours in their own backyard today to pick a ticket for the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament.
After an underwhelming showing at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun, qualification to this year’s World Cup in Qatar represents redemption for the Ghanaians who aim at upsetting the Super Eagles at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium this evening (kickoff: 17.00 GMT) to pick one of Africa’s five World Cup slots.
The Ghanaians put up an impressive performance but failed to capitalise on their home advantage after a goalless draw with the Super Eagles in the first leg match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Friday. But the team’s high energy performance has raised hopes that they can rise to the occasion today against all odds despite the growing confidence by the home side who are approaching the clash like a World Cup final.
Despite failing to beat Ghana in their last four meetings since the 2006 AFCON, the Super Eagles are under pressure to deliver before their home fans, aware that a defeat to their fiercest rival could puncture their pride and also deny them a place at football’s biggest global gathering.
Interim Ghana coach Otto Addo is counting the positives from last Friday’s performance and is confident his players will play a match of their lives with “cut-throat” performance, especially in attack where Felix Afena-Gyan, Jordan Ayew, Abdul-Fatawu Issahaku and Daniel Kofi Kyereh are expected to be razor sharp to execute the demolition exercise.
The star-studded Nigerians start as favourites, but matches between the two West African heavyweights hardly follow a form guide.
The Ghana coach will need a dominant performance in midfield from his skipper, Thomas Partey, to provide his famed cutting-edge passes as well as an improved performance from the gifted offensive midfielder Mohammed Kudus to cut through the Nigerian defence.
Kudus, whom the coach has described as exceptional, has a heavy responsibility as the playmaker of the team to turn things around.
The Ghanaian Times reports that a former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, has stated that the new expenditure measures announced by the government to cushion the citizenry are not effective and enough to lessen the current economic crisis.
He says due to the distressed nature of the country’s domestic markets, government may have to continue borrowing to service existing debts, a situation he believes would lead to an increase in the deficit.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, MrTerkper highlighted that the new measures outlined by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, are not going to make any difference to the deficit, borrowing and the debt situation; yet, may see some concrete numbers.
“It is not a matter of one or two measures; it is positive in one sense even if it is not substantive because much of the expenditure is not going in that area. By the way, we have to borrow to refinance (and) we have to borrow to repay old loan. That is the situation that is facing us.
“Is our domestic market that big and if we are blocked from going to the external markets, then I’m afraid; the problems GUTA is raising are going to be worse because government is coming straight into the domestic markets to borrow and it will increase interest rates, and that is why BoG is increasing policy rate as a signal,” he said.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on Thursday, announced a number of measures by the government including a 50 per cent cut in fuel coupon allocations for all political appointees and heads of government institutions, including SOEs, a 15 per cent reduction in fuel prices and a 30 per cent cut in salaries for all Cabinet Ministers and heads of State-Owned Enterprises, amongst others to cushion Ghanaians.
The newspaper says that the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (COBD) has forecast an up to GHs¢1 per litre reduction in the price of petrol and diesel by April 1, 2022.
This follows several engagements the COBD had with the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and stakeholders to fashion out interventions, aimed at reducing the prices at the various pumps.
The Chief Executive of the Chamber, SenyoHosi, says additional measures have been agreed upon and are expected to reduce prices by Friday.
“The key thing that will really deal with the challenges we have will be the exchange rate interventions that government is looking at together with the Central Bank. Come April 1, 2022; we should be able to see a better position on petroleum prices.
“We will be looking at something close to a cedi under litre or half a cedi under a litre,” he said.
In an earlier interview with JoyNews, SenyoHosi said once these measures are implemented, there will be some reprieve for consumers.
“We’ve been engaging the BoG. I think they release about $160 million to the entire energy sector, so not just the BDCs. I think they did some, but not in a very structured way as we would have wanted to be done. It was very critical for the particular moment to reduce some tension,” he noted.
He explained that the new interventions would help “develop a structure geared around the forex market to ensure that some of these interventions can cascade into lower pump prices as we currently see on the markets.”
Last week, the government announced a GH¢0.15 reduction in petroleum products, which commercial transport operators rejected.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana and other transport unions say they are disappointed.
According to them, they would have been better off if government had not absorbed anything.
GIK/APA