According to the CEO of the Commission, Dr. Edward Kwapong, the decision should give value for money and link productivity with pay.

Being in existence for about eight years now, the public sector base pay of the Single Spine has been increased by between 10 and 20 percent.

Dr. Edward Kwapong, also explains that a change in the yearly review of the public sector base salary, should help reduce government’s rising expenditure on public sector remuneration.

“Because of the rate of inflation, people say the real income has eroded. So there is the need to restore us back to the real wage we were making at the beginning of the year.  The increase which will keep workers where they were before the end of the year is informed by figures from the Ghana Statistical Service,” he said.

“Going forward, we perhaps need a national dialogue to determine that we would not go for the yearly increments, but rather work harder to improve productivity for the gains to inform salary increases that will be granted by Government.”

The Single Spine which began in 2010, saw the base pay of GH¢3.42 increase to GH¢4.10 in 2011.

The 2011 figure of GH¢4.10 increased to GH¢4.48 in 2012.

In 2013, the base pay saw a significant growth from the 2012 figure to GH¢ 5.32. 2014, 2015, 2016 all saw significant increases.

The 11 per cent increase in the base pay of the 2017 figure of GH¢7.45, increases the 2018 base pay to GH¢8.27.

Dr. Edward Kwapong spoke at the launch of a Ghana Banking Human Resource Survey by ACREATY Ghana.

The Survey seeks to collate objective views about the banking sector for the purposes of planning and strategy.

The Regional Managing Partner of ACREATY Ghana, Elsie Appau explains that the exercise should improve standards in the banking industry.

“If you don’t know where you are, how would you know where you want to be? Based on the lack of information in the banking sector it’s difficult to know about the systems and structures of banks in the system. As a human capital company, we decided it is not enough to train and share the CV’s of people who patronize our service. Rather we believe it’s important to understand the opinions of the employees and their contribution to their banks.  Based on that understanding we decided to help the banks who do not have the full capacity to conduct the surveys, which will end up informing their planning purposes.”

The evidence based data survey which is expected to focus on all 35 banks in the country will prioritize the protection of data for participating banks and will be a trusted source of information on employee performance, employee perception about a number of banking related topics like employee welfare and remuneration among others.

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By: Bobbie Osei/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Fair Wages considers halting yearly base pay rises appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He takes over from George Smith Graham who resigned from the position in May 2017.

Until his appointment, Dr.  Kwapong was the Chief Executive of HR Perspective Ltd, an HR Consultancy firm.

He was also the General Manager of Human Resources Division of Ghana Commercial Bank, from 2001-2009.

Dr. Kwapong comes to his new portfolio with a wide range of experience in the areas of Job Evaluation, Organisational Review and Development, Performance Management, Salary Administration, Career/Succession Planning and Leadership Development, among others.

He is a Barrister at Law, specializing in Labour and Industrial Law.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Ghana, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Job Evaluation from Solihull College, Birmingham.

He was introduced to the staff of FWSC on Monday afternoon by the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobbey, and the Chief Director at the Ministry, Mr. Longmann Atta Kumah.

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By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Edward Kwapong appointed acting Fair Wages CEO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According managers of the scheme the recruitment was done in accordance with due process.

The Secretariat also said the recent increase in the allowance for national service personnel was not a hasty political decision.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretariat on Friday.

“The vacant positions were widely advertised in various Ghanaian newspapers, on the Scheme’s website, and on social media. Eligible applicants were therefore shortlisted, interviews were conducted and successful applicants were accordingly given appointment letters in line with the ethics of the public service,” the statement added.

The National Service Secretariat (NSS) has come under heavy criticism after it recently recruited new staff and announced a 60% increment in monthly allowance for service personnel.

Some commentators said the recent actions were deliberate attempts by the managers of the National Service Scheme were politically motivated to frustrate the plans of the incoming New Patriotic Party government which takes office on January 7, 2017.

According to the managers of NSS, “Management, acting on the directives of the National Service Board, secured technical clearance from the Public Services Commission and financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.”

“The process to consider an upward adjustment of personnel allowances began in April, 2016 when the National Service Board gave approval for discussions towards a new rate for the personnel allowances.”

“The increment of the personnel allowances to GH¢559.04 was arrived at by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in the light of the fact that personnel allowances were calculated at 40 per cent of the graduate entry level on the 2017 Single Spine Salary Structure for 2017. Unfortunately, this fact has been lost in most of the public discussions on the matter,” it said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Staff recruitment, allowance increment not political – NSS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A number of labour unions including the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), and recently staff of the Electoral Commission, have intensified demands for increased salaries and some allowances owed them; but the Head of Public Affairs for the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Earl Ankrah, in an interview on Citi FM said the commission will not give in to demands from labour unions ahead of the December elections.

However, in a separate interview with the General Secretary of GHOSPA, Emmanuel Owiafe, the FWSC will only leave dire consequences at the various hospitals.

“You cannot owe us for a period of almost six years and you just come out to say that you will not pay because you have not budgeted for it. We will explicitly say that it is show of very bad practice,” Emmanuel Owiafe said.

“If government blatantly says that this year’s and nothing at all, it is highly unacceptable, and we are not backing down on our stance. We are still on strike and we are very resolute with our demands. We are not backing off until we have a strong commitment from government, he added.

GHOSPA enters into the third week of its strike to demand their changes to their market premiums; as a result of conversion differences after their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Labour unrest: FWSC’s position unacceptable – GHOSPA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the decision may have taken into consideration government’s commitment to maintain high fiscal discipline under the economic assistance program with the IMF.

“At the negotiation table, I do not think government will offer the 12¹/₂ percent at the onset; this would have been achieved after negotiating with labour who would have quoted a higher rate of increase,” Dr. Baah Boateng stated.

He added, “Government definitely knows that it can pay that is why it would have agreed to the 12¹/₂ percent.”

The Public Services Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (PSJSNC) on Tuesday [September 13, 2016], announced a 12¹/₂ percent increase in the salaries of all public sector workers on the Single Spine Salary Structure.

A statement on the decision, signed by the CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), George Smith Graham further indicated that the new increase will take effect from January 2017.

One of the concerns being raised by some economic watchers is the likelihood of the decision to distort government’s commitment not to overspend this year.

But Dr. Baah Boateng explains the decision could not have been upheld if it didn’t fall within government’s means.

“On the government’s side there will definitely be a representative from the ministry of finance on the negotiation table as such any figure that the government cannot afford would have been opposed,” he remarked.

The announcement also comes at a time that Ghana is awaiting a release of the third tranche of the bailout cash from the IMF.

Government is expected to present the fund’s review committee with data on the country’s energy sector which is considered as one of the critical factors of the economic deal.

Meanwhile Dr. Boateng maintains the margin of increase will cushion workers against any adverse impact of inflation which is anticipated to drop to 12 percent margin by the end of 2016.

The increase in public sector pay comes barely a week after government announced a ten percent increase in the national daily minimum wage to be implemented in January 2017.

The figure has been increased to 8 cedis 80 pesewas from the current 8 cedis.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Economist downplays effect of pay rise on IMF deal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The chairman of the party’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Lawyer Ayikoi Otoo told Citi News that he believes the National Chairman should call an emergency National Steering Committee meeting to discuss the issue.

He stated that he would brief the committee on the situation after which the National Executive Committee of the party would also address the issue.

Mr. Otoo believes that the situation, if not handled properly, could disrupt the party’s program for the election of their presidential candidate.

Mr. Hoezame on the June 17, 2014, filed a writ challenging the status of the party’s National Council as presently constituted and praying an Accra High Court to compel the NPP to follow what he calls procedures outlined in the party’s constitution and re-compose its National Council.

Mr. Hoezame, who describes himself as a fully paid up card bearing member of the NPP from ‘1992 till date, claims the Paul Afoko-led executive has breached the NPP constitution by purporting to call for and take part in the deliberations of the National Council without reconstituting it.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP National Chairman should call emergency meeting – Ayikoi Otoo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.