“It’s a big mine field that can easily ignite the industrial bombs if care is not taken. If they continue with this decision I am not sure they can contain the industrial action that will arise,” says Abdul Malik Kweku Baako.

The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr has dared the Mahama led administration to implement a proposal it intends to initiate which will result in the freezing of salary increment of Public sector workers. According to him, the “present economic conditions will not even allow that…you will not achieve results. It won’t happen.”

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Seth Terkper presenting a policy statement on Ghana's economy on the floor of parliament, indicated that government was considering placing a moratorium on increases in public sector salaries this year.

This proposal immediately met the fury of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Kofi Asamoah, the TUC said government’s decision to freeze workers’ salaries is inconsiderate and strange.

"This is unthinkable and unacceptable. We would like to warn government that Organised Labour would do whatever it takes to resist such policies, with particular reference to the so-called moratorium on public sector wage increase," a portion of the statement stated.

And the seasoned journalist says government should be ready for an uprising if it insists on forcing workers to sacrifice through freezing of salary increment.

“I am wondering who is thinking of that idea; it is unsustainable. How are they going to do that…sit down with labour and negotiate wage freeze? It is explosive. This is free consultancy; dare it and see; you can negotiate and talk, but I am saying that it won’t happen…it will be a miracle for labour without any other conditions attached, to agree to a wage freeze…the reality is that there is no incentive; what kind of illusion is this?...be practical, be pragmatic, be realistic,” he demanded of government.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo, on Wednesday, Kweku Baako Jnr. advised government to take a cue from the address delivered by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2012 running mate to Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); instead of taking the ‘easy way out’.

He pointed out that, “there are other options that can be used to manage the economy, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia suggested some of them. We are in difficult times and that is why I am saying that the TUC’s wage freeze is not going to work; if they try it, it will be an exercise in futility. It is a proposition that is supposed to be dumped into the dustbin”.