Rethink SSSS before labour agitations worsen — Prof. Addai

A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Addai has added his voice to the debate about the effectiveness or otherwise of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS), saying the implementation of the policy will destroy the country if care is not taken.

He noted that the pay policy which was adopted in 2006 by government as the most appropriate salary structure for the public sector workers to promote equity and fairness in salary administration, has failed to deliver on its mandate.

He said due to the misconstrued perception that the policy will bring increment in salaries of public sector workers, instead of ensuring equity and fairness, was a reason for the ongoing discrepancies in the policy.

In anticipation of the effective implementation of the Pay Policy, government in June 2007 established the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission through an Act of Parliament (Act 737, 2007) to ensure fair, transparent and systematic implementation of the pay policy.

But speaking Monday 8th April on Adom FM’s 'Dea Mehunu' programme, which was also broadcast live on Asempa FM, Prof. Addai noted that the intentions of implementing the pay policy have been lost and have become a national crisis instead.

Meanwhile, Prof. Addai noted that the current strikes by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and recent strike threats by the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG) and other public institutions, show that government will have to take a critical look at issues surrounding the pay policy.

He stated the president and stakeholders must negotiate with aggrieved institutions to rectify issues concerning the strikes.

Prof. Addai has described some of the utterances by Head of Public Relations of the Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC), Earl Ankrah, in the media as unfair to the aggrieved workers.

He has suggested to President Mahama and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to consult experts to meet the leaderships of the aggrieved public workers to address the sticking points.

He also noted that the leadership involved in the process must exhibit leadership skills in dealing with the issues instead of trading insults in the media.

The former rector however appealed to the striking workers to reconsider their decision in the interest of the nation.