The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says it cannot support the ladies for first and second ladies.
TUC in a statement opined that it os right for anyone who has not been officially assigned duties and responsibilities in the public service to receive monthly salaries.
“The Committee probably sought to rationalize or regularize allowances which were being paid already. Hence its recommendation to convert such allowances into salaries. But you cannot regularize or rationalize the payment of salaries which have no basis.”
The statement added: “The ongoing debate indicates clearly that this issue is very important to Ghanaians. We would like to advise President Akufo-Addo to use all the powers accorded him by the Constitution of Ghana to stop the payment of the salaries to his wife and the wife of the Vice President immediately, until they are assigned official duties and responsibilities. The President should also ensure that all such payments made to his wife and the wife of Vice President are refunded immediately.
When the time comes for spouses of presidents and vice presidents to be assigned official duties and responsibilities that will qualify them to receive salaries from tax payers’ money, the executive arm of government should remember to assign official duties and responsibilities to the spouses of the Speakers of Parliament (the heads of the legislative arm of government) and the spouses of Chief Justices (the heads of the judiciary arm of government). They can also perform official duties and responsibilities.
We would also like to advise the President to initiate a process towards the establishment of a Committee/Commission made up of experts from various fields to advise government on salaries for all job holders in the entire public service to ensure fairness. The current system appears to favour politicians at the expense of other job holders in the larger public service in terms of salaries, allowances and other job-related privileges. Under no circumstance should sections of the public service have unfair advantage over others in the same public service. The wrongs that have been perpetuated over nearly past three decades at the blind side of Ghanaian taxpayers must stop now.”
Read the full statement below
By: Rainbowradioonline.com