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Consider ideas from stakeholders in the implementation of devt policies – TUC

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is urging government to heed the advice of stakeholders when designing and implementing developmental policies in the country.

According to the TUC, most of the policies to be implemented within the 2020 budget were devoid of the advice and concerns raised by stakeholders.

The advice was given during a presentation by the TUC at a 2020 Budget Review Forum organised by it in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES-Ghana), in Accra on Tuesday.

The forum sought to review key policies set out to be implemented in the 2020 budget to aid in the growth and development of the country.

Mrs Mary Karimu, Deputy Director of the Labour Research and Policy Institute (LRPI) of the TUC, delivering a presentation on the TUC’s comments on the 2020 budget statement said the plans held by the government held great promise for Ghanaians; however certain issues needed to be addressed to ensure that Ghanaians would be able to improve their standards of living.

She said despite the growth in the macro-economic management of the economy, the living standards of Ghanaians were yet to improve, adding that it was not the fault of the government but from the many years of high inflation and increases in taxes and fees.

“Although minimum wage earners will receive just above GH¢300 per month in 2020, it still does not bode well for Ghanaians as more taxes have already taken effect such as the increase utility tariffs, and the Communication Service Tax (CST),” Mrs Karimu added.

On employment creation, the TUC advised government to focus on creating more employment for its youth and should consider revising its plans to export nurses to Barbados as Ghanaians continue to face the reality of having one doctor to 8000 patients.

Mrs Karimu stated that the ultimate solution lay with the empowerment of the private sector, specifically the domestic private sector, adding that this could be achieved by providing a reasonable level of lending rates.

During the presentation, it was observed that the consistent investment in the labour administration and the National Labour Commission had led to a relatively peaceful environment.

The TUC stressed the need for the provision of adequate resources to institutions mandated to resolve and prevent industrial conflicts was kept to ensure that the peace on the labour front was maintained.

It noted that there had been significant progress over the past three years but the struggle for growth was not over.

The TUC hoped that for 2020, government would consolidate the gains for growth, jobs and prosperity for all Ghanaians irrespective of their location and socio-economic status, as well as demonstrate its commitment to the principles of the fiscal responsibility by adhering to the dictates of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

BY FREDERICK GADESE-MENSAH

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