[ 2015-08-05 ]

Doctors' strike: I will not authorize payments outside the budget- Mahama
President John Mahama has indicated he will not
authorise any expenditure on wages not provided
for in the budget for both workers and Article 72
office holders.

He said he will hold on to this commitment and
face any likely political consequences that may
come as a result of this decision.

The President said this when he addressed members
of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, GRWA
at the launch of their 80th anniversary in Accra.

The president's comments come a week after doctors
declared a strike over the absence of better
conditions of service. They are threatening to
resign en masse if their demands are not meant.

John Mahama observed that the demands by the Ghana
Medical Association will adversely affect the
Single Spine Pay Policy and appealed to them not
to derail the gains made to achieve fiscal
discipline.

He said any unbudgeted payment made to the doctors
will open the floodgates for others in the health
sector to make demands that will lead to
distortions in the Single Spine Salary Structure.

He has, therefore, advised the striking doctors to
return to the negotiating table and complete
discussions with government and the Fair Wages
Commission on better conditions of service.

Part of their demands included 40% of basic
salaries as accommodation allowance per month, 20
percent as core duty facilitation allowance, 30%
clothing allowance, 20% maintenance allowance, 20%
utility allowance, 50% as professional allowance
and 25% special risk allowance and vehicle tax
exemption to doctors.

The proposal has been condemned severally by
government spokespersons some of whom have
described the demands as outrageous.

With the country now under an IMF supervision, the
president said he will not make payments that will
further raise Ghana's budget deficit.

"Any agreement that are reached in respect of
allowances or conditions of services would have to
be appropriately captured in the budget.

"And i want to say for emphasis i will not
authorize any expenditure on wages and
compensation not provided for in the budget.

"Fiscal discipline requires that not a single
pesewa is spent on remuneration outside what has
been budgeted for and this goes for both Article
71 Office holders and those on the single spine.

"It goes for the president as well as the lowest
public sector employee. I am determined to hold
the line no matter the political cost," he said.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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