May Day: Resolve remuneration issues for harmony —Head of Civil Service
Nana Agyekum-Dwamena, Head of Civil Service, has urged Government to quickly address issues of remuneration of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association to restore industrial harmony.
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) and the government have been at crossroads for almost two weeks over the former’s demand for payment of neutrality allowance and other remunerations.
As a result, CLOGSAG has been on strike since April 21, 2022.
Addressing members of CLOGSAG to mark this year’s May Day celebrations in Accra, on Sunday, Mr Agyekum-Dwamena said Government must do all it could to quickly resolve the impasse for industrial harmony to prevail.
He said over the years, the civil and local government staff, and to a large extent, public servants, had contributed immensely to the development of the country and must be given what they deserved.
“We are one of the organisations that hardly undertake industrial action, one of the organisations that are much more flexible in terms of understanding of issues because we are the center of government,” he said and added that: “We are part of the broad process, we are part of policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation process, so we clearly understand the challenges of this country and so I want to encourage the people of Ghana to come to a
certain understanding ( the role civil servants in national development and support us).”
Some people, including civil society organisations, as well as social and political commentators, have questioned the rationale for the payment of the neutrality allowance.
In response to that, Mr Agyekum-Dwamena entreated Ghanaians to be circumspect in their criticisms against CLOGSAG’s demand for neutrality allowance.
He explained that the calculation for the allowance started in 2019, adding that it was a series of allowances numbering about 48, cut down close to eight, which had been harmonised.
“So the neutrality is really a representation of a broader lot of allowances,” he said.
He added that; “I know that, that has been the major concern. People have come out to say that no, that is not what we are supposed to do and all that. You are entitled to your own opinion and that is a fact, but the point still remains that nobody has really contested the fact that civil and local government staff have gone through negotiations, have gone through the
processes and let me stress that with recognition of what this country is going through, negotiations are still continuing and even the initial stance to a large extent has been watered down.”
He said civil and local government staff were going through many difficulties and challenges and said it was important the citizenry understood their concerns. He commended CLOGSAG for its continued support to the Service and the development of the country “I have always said this and I will say it again that since independence the civil and local
government service, by extension public services, have held this country together.
“We have gone through various political upheavals. You go back even 1966. After the 66 coup, we are the people who managed this country. So, I will always encourage you to be proud,” Mr Agyekum-Dwamena said.
Dr Evans A. Dzikum, President of CLOGSAG, thanked members of the Association for showing commitment, duty conscious and contributing to government’s plans, programmes and activities, despite the poor conditions of service.
Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, assured members of the Association of leadership’s commitment to ensure that government fulfilled its part of the agreement on conditions of service agreed upon on January 20, 2022.