General News of Wednesday, 7 July 1999

Source: GNA

Civil Servants urge govt. to resolve problems on Price waterhouse

Accra, July 6, GNA - The Civil Servants' Association of Ghana (CSAG) on Tuesday urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve problems that have arisen as a result of the implementation of the Price Waterhouse report.

"We are obliged to call on the government to take immediate steps to remedy the situation by instituting appropriate measures to correct the anomalies in the next few days to avert any possible upheavals which might disturb the peace in the civil service."

A statement issued in Accra by Mr J.L.A. Quarshie, Regional Secretary, noted that there have been anomalies in the payment of June salaries and wages for civil servants.

This, it said, was as a result of the misinterpretation or otherwise by the Office of the Controller and Accountant-General in the initial implementation of the government's new salary schedule.

"The inconceivable nature of these anomalies, in some instances, show considerable loss in salaries and in certain extreme cases complete loss of salary."

The statement said the situation does not conform to the memorandum of understanding reached between members of the Forum and the Central Management Board that is responsible for the implementation of the policy.

Members of the Forum are CSAG, Ghana National Association of Teachers and Judicial Service Staff Association.

"It is our intention, therefore, under the circumstances to draw attention to the harm which this insensitive situation is likely to cause to the relatively peaceful industrial atmosphere the Civil Service is currently enjoying."

It noted that there is "at present a high level of misconception and mistrust in the ranks of Civil Servants about the genuineness of this new salary structure which is intended to provide a uniform platform for salary administration in the Public Services."