‘9% pay rise is an insult to workers’ economic reality’ – NPP communicator

A communicator of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Kyeretwie-Amponsah, has criticised the government’s decision to increase public sector workers’ base pay by 9% in 2027, arguing that the adjustment does not reflect the cost of living or the economic realities facing Ghanaians.

He said the government’s claims of economic stabilisation were yet to translate into meaningful relief for workers, households and businesses, questioning why the improved economic indicators were not being reflected in the proposed salary adjustment.

Speaking on The Forum, a weekend current affairs programme on Asaase Radio, Kyeretwie-Amponsah said the cost of essential services, including electricity, water, fuel, transport and rent, should have informed the negotiations with organised labour.

“Looking at the cost of living presently… the government talks of stabilising the economy but really it’s not reflecting in the pockets of Ghanaians. Friends who are into the business community will tell you… purchasing power is now down, markets are really on the low,” he said.

He added: “So you ask yourself, what is this improvement of the economy that we are talking about?”

Kyeretwie-Amponsah argued that the 9% adjustment was inadequate, particularly given what he described as the NDC’s promises to organised labour while in opposition.

He said political parties must be prepared to fulfil commitments made to workers when seeking their support during election campaigns.

“A lot of union groups to be up against the NPP government and promising them heaven on earth. So when today only 9% salary of workers going into 2027, then it leaves more to be desired… when you make some of these promises you should be able to live up to it because it is on the basis of it that the people gave government their mandate,” he said.

He maintained that salary negotiations should take into account the broader economic pressures on workers rather than focusing narrowly on the percentage increase.

“When we are making adjustment in terms of salaries, these are all factors that we should be able to put together to be well informed about how we are going to do it and what actually should be the figure that will bring support to the Ghanaians,” he stated.

Kyeretwie-Amponsah also challenged the NDC’s argument that the economic difficulties inherited by the Mahama administration had constrained its ability to offer higher salary increases.

The NDC communicator had argued that the government took office on 7 January 2025 amid difficult economic conditions, including inflation of about 23%.

But Kyeretwie-Amponsah said the explanation needed to be supported with specific details rather than broad claims about the state of the economy.

“When you say they inherited, that’s a big statement. I would have loved for them to specifically tell me things that he thinks that based on that the economy was in shambles. I would like to know that,” he said.

He further accused the NDC of applying a different standard to external economic factors now that it was in government.

According to him, the party had previously dismissed the NPP government’s references to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and other international developments as explanations for Ghana’s economic difficulties.

He said it was therefore inconsistent for the current administration to cite external pressures when defending its economic performance.

The NDC communicator on the programme rejected the suggestion that the party did not believe in external factors, insisting that the NDC recognised their influence on the economy.

The government and organised labour have agreed to a 9% increase in public sector base pay for 2027 and a 10% increase for 2028 under a two-year agreement signed on Tuesday at the Ghana Employers Association.

The 2027 arrangement provides for an eight-percentage-point increase in base pay and a one-percentage-point allocation for conditions of service.

The 10% increase for 2028 will take effect on 1 January and will be calculated using the applicable base pay at the end of 2027.