Workers urged to demand fair wages from govt

Winneba, June 10, GNA - The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Conference, the Right Reverend Robert Aboagye Mensah, has called on Ghanaian workers to demand fair wages and salary for their labour. He pointed out, however, that when workers refused what was being offered by the government it would not promote industrial peace and affect economic growth.

Rt. Rev. Aboagye Mensah stated that Ghanaian workers should be mindful that the government used taxes, which many people evade to meet their demand and urged them to exercise restraint in their attack on the government.


He gave the advice when he opened the third Biennial National Conference of the Ghana Methodist Students Union (GHAMSU), on Friday at Winneba.


The three-day conference is under the theme, "But you, keep your head in all situation".


He reminded professionals to remember that they were trained with the taxpayer's money and said that the education sector alone took 40 percent of the budget, adding that, the economy could not meet all the demands on the government.


The Presiding Bishop stressed that to much pressure on the government could dislocate other sectors of the economy and urged professionals to cooperate with the government to ensure peace and stability.

He was of the view that if professionals would continue to put pressure on the government over wages and salaries, future students should be made to pay fees at the tertiary level. If they pay their own fees instead of government sponsorship, then they could leave to seek greener pastures outside the country, he said. Rt. Rev. Aboagye Mensah said the Church was interested in the activities of GHAMSU especially in the areas of evangelism and called on the executives of the Union to present their budget to the Methodist Conference early for consideration.


He noted that evangelism must affect the lives of the people and said that, "if the change does not come then there is something wrong". Mr Benjamin Dadzie, President of GHAMSU, said the Union organised a "student-in-Christ-evangelism" programmes in 136 towns and villages during which 11,489 souls were won for Christ.


He said the Union had also supported the construction of two Church buildings at Gushiegu and Yapei for the congregation to stop worshipping under trees.


Mr Dadzie stressed the readiness of the members of the Union to reach out to the remotest areas with the word of God to win souls for Christ and to establish Churches.