Former Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has questioned the apparent inconsistency in organised labour’s stance on salary increments following negotiations with the government.

In a post on X on Thursday, 20th February 2025, he criticised what he described as a politically motivated double standard, accusing some labour unions of prioritising partisan interests over the welfare of workers.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour highlighted a sharp contrast between the reactions to salary increments under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and current President John Dramani Mahama.

In 2024, Akufo-Addo offered all public sector workers 25% salary increment. Yet a section of organized labour threatened strike action and were up in arms. Today, Mahama offers same public sector workers a paltry 10% increase in salary. Meanwhile, a section of organized labour… pic.twitter.com/cFE7O3B1xb

— John Ntim Fordjour MP (@NtimFordjour) February 20, 2025

He pointed out that in 2024, the Akufo-Addo administration approved a 25% salary increase for public sector workers, yet the decision was met with fierce resistance, including threats of industrial action.

However, a year later, Mahama’s government announced a comparatively modest 10% wage increase, which was widely accepted by certain labour groups, with some even defending the increment as reasonable.

“In 2024, Akufo-Addo offered all public sector workers a 25% salary increment, yet sections of organised labour vehemently opposed it and threatened to strike. Today, Mahama offers a mere 10% increase, and some of the same unions have suddenly turned into government spokespeople, justifying why this amount is acceptable. What has changed? Are we not in the same economy? Eiii, stomach agenda nkoaa!” the MP wrote in his post.

His comments were accompanied by a detailed chart illustrating salary increments under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from 2017 to 2024, showing adjustments ranging from 10% in 2019 to as high as 30% in 2023.

On 20th February 2025, the Mahama administration, following negotiations with organised labour, approved a 10% salary increment for public sector employees, effective from 1st March.

This decision followed a 23% increment implemented in 2024 under the previous government, which had been aimed at mitigating economic hardship but had failed to appease labour unions at the time.

Despite the current administration’s lower offer, some labour representatives have defended the decision, citing economic difficulties inherited from the previous government.

During negotiations, President Mahama urged public sector workers to be patient with his government, citing the fragile state of the economy left behind by his predecessor. He assured them that future improvements in economic conditions would allow for better remuneration.

However, Rev. Ntim Fordjour’s remarks have reignited the debate on labour’s neutrality, raising concerns over whether some unions are influenced by political allegiances rather than the genuine interests of workers.