Former President John Mahama has leveled strong criticism against the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, accusing them of “criminally mishandling” the economy.
At the National Tripartite Committee meeting held by the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment—where it was announced that base pay for public sector workers would increase by 10%, starting March 2025—Mahama expressed his shock over the economic mismanagement he has uncovered.
“We all knew the economy was in crisis, but some of the things I am uncovering myself have been a criminal mishandling of our economy. Ghana is now a crime scene,” he stated.
“How can a government be so reckless? I cannot understand,” he added.
This pay rise marks the second adjustment in less than a year, with the previous one occurring in 2024 when the government approved a 23% increase to address the rising cost of living.
Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Rashid Pelpuo, announced that the increment will take effect on March 1, 2025.
On February 4, 2025, the National Tripartite Committee (NTC), comprising representatives from the government, employers, and organized labor associations, began negotiations to determine the minimum wage for 2025.
These negotiations are critical, as the minimum wage serves as the baseline for wages across various sectors, particularly impacting low-income workers in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.
The agreed minimum wage will also influence future deliberations on base pay for public sector employees, a process scheduled to follow the completion of the current minimum wage discussions.
