University Strike: Lokko represents the Govt

The long, drawn-out negotiations over salaries for civil servants entered another phase when government named a former Director-General of the Ghana Education Services as its representative on the arbitration panel at the weekend, according to a press notice issued by the Ghana News Agency.

The nominees is Professor Basil Lokko, one-time Head of School of Administration, Legon. The arbitration panel became necessary after the negotiations between the Government Contact Group and the Consultative Forum ended in deadlock last Thursday.

The forum which comprises the Cvil Servants Associatian (CSA), the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), the Ghana Natioanal Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Judicial Services Association of Ghana (JUSAG) are yet to nominate their representative.

When the Forum names it s representative the two nominess will then appoint a third person to serve as an umpire. The 12-member Foru team,led by its chairman, Mr. Ray Cudjoe, rejected the package presented by the Presidential Staffer, Mr. Nathan Quao after a meeting on Thursday.

In the packega was that there should be salaries across the board from January to June this year.

Furthermore, there will be 35 per cent increase from July to December this year.

The group's explanation that because of the bugdetary constraint the proposed five per cent from July will cumulatively be at the end of next January could not appease Ray and his team.

A statement digned by Mr. Totobi Quakyi, Information Minister and member of the contact Group gave the list of other members of the team as Mr. Kwamina Ahwoi, acting Minister of Employment and Social Welfare and Mr. Victor Selormey, Deputy Finance Minster.

From the Forum were: Mrs. Emma H. Banga, President of GRNA and Mr. J. E Ansah, chairman of JUSAG..

Others were: Mr. Tennyson Foli, Mr. J. L. A. Quarshie and Mr Abam of the CSA, Mr. John Nyaabbo and Thomas Kwaw Adjei of GNAT, Mr. P. D.K. Abiwu and Mr BAth Banini of JUSAG and Mr. Quist of GRNA.