SUNYANI AUDIT STAFF WEAR RED BANDS (Page 32)

Story: Samuel Duodu, Sunyani

THE staff of the Sunyani branch of the Audit Service in the Brong Ahafo Region have begun wearing red bands in their offices to press home their demands for the immediate implementation of their new salary structure by the Audit Service Board (ASB).
The decision of the workers, who are members of the Public Service Workers Union (PSWU), to put on the red bands is also in protest against the lack of response to the several petitions sent to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MFEP) and the Office of the President on the delay of the implementation of the new salary structure.
In a resolution adopted at an emergency meeting in Sunyani on Tuesday and jointly signed by Mr Joseph Anamoo, E.R. Bennin and Anne T. Ninfaabeliede, the local chairman, secretary and executive member of the PSWU of the Audit Service respectively, they said the red bands were a warning signal that the workers would advise themselves if the government failed to implement the new salary structure immediately.
The resolution said the wearing of the red bands was also in solidarity with their colleagues in the three northern regions — Tamale, Bolgatanta and Wa, who started wearing the red bands from November, last year, to press home the immediate implementation of the new salary structure.
   Giving a background to the impasse, the resolution said in October, 2006, the ASB decided to review the salary of the staff of the Audit Service, and accordingly engaged a consultant to come up with proposals for the board’s consideration.
It said the consultant’s report, together with explanatory memorandum and the basis for the revision, was sent to the Public Services Commission (PSC) in accordance with Article 189 (3) (a) of the Constitution. After studying the memorandum, the PSC was convinced that a case for upward review of salary had been established.
“We were reliably informed that the office of the President, by letter No. SCR. A14/12 dated September 17, 2007, requested MOFEP for comments on the proposed salary structure, as well as the payment of the arrears but MOFEP, by a letter No. PAD/07//SAL. dated November 1, 2007, responded that the 2007 budget could not accommodate the proposed salary increase and the proposed salary structure should be referred to the Fair Wages Commission for assessment,” the resolution stated.
The resolution stated that they therefore saw the action of the Presidency and MOFEP as a deliberate ploy to frustrate the staff of the Audit Service.