Akufo-Addo suspends any increase of his salary and that of Bawumia, says Ghana's economy is in recovery
- The presidency has suspended salary increments for cabinet members
- President Akufo-Addo says this is to ease the burden on Ghana’s public purse
- The opposition NDC says the Akufo-Addo government is to blame for labor agitations
President Akufo-Addo says he has, together with the Vice President and all government officials, suspended any increase in their salaries.
This comment by the president was done during a ceremony to celebrate Ghanaian workers on May Day.
The president stated that his choice follows the challenging times that Ghana’s economy finds itself amid the ravages of the Coronavirus.
“I, together with the Vice President and all government officials, have suspended any increase on our salaries. This is informed by the ravaging effect the Coronavirus has had on the Ghanaian economy which currently is recovering,” he stated.
The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the “appalling incompetence of the Akufo-Addo government” has generated a state of “abject hopelessness” among Ghanaian workers.
In its May Day message, General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, urged both public and private workers to put the country first and remain productive just so to “lubricate the wheels of progress and development”.
“It is their sweat and toil that stabilize the nation even as the people of Ghana continue to endure the scandal-ridden Akufo-Addo government,” he wrote in the message.
The month of May begins with increments in some goods and services across the country. This is happening because of the 1 percent Covid-19 health levy that government has attached to a wide range of goods and services.
Fuel Prices
The first increment is that of fuel prices. This follows a directive from the National Petroleum Authority for the Oil marketing companies to start applying the new taxes on fuel from May 1. In addition to that, the Authority has also increased some levies on the price build up.
This will result in liters going up by some 47 pesewas. The price could be more than what is expected as some marketing firms are also expected to increase the margin by some 3 percent as part two weekly receive.
Prices of LPG
Government has also slapped an 18 pesewas increment on every kilogramme of gas effective May 1. What this means is that you will, for example, pay 4.5 cedis more for a 25kg LPG cylinder.
Already, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies have opposed the increment. They say it will reduce the rate at which Ghanaians use LPG in their kitchens.
Food prices
The Ghana Importers and Exporters Association is predicting hikes in prices of food and services beginning May 1.
The association links their prediction to the 1 percent Covid-19 Health Recovery Levy which takes effect on Monday, May 1. The association says they will pass on the cost to the consumer.
Cost of talk and data
Telecommunication firms are expected to shoot up prices beginning the first of May. Already, MTN Ghana has sent a notice to its clients about the increase in data and calls services.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
