Founder and Executive Director of IMANI Ghana a policy think tank has lauded President John Dramani Mahama for his decision not to distort the single spine salary structure and spending beyond the stipulated budget to meet the demands of the Ghana Medical Association.
President Mahama on Wednesday announced his stance on pressure from the Ghana Medical Association on government over their conditions of service. He stated that “I will not authorize any expenditure on wages and compensation not provided for in the budget. Fiscal discipline requires that not a single pesewa is spent on remuneration outside what has been budgeted for”.
This comment by the president has since generated apprehension with some labor experts and political scientist describing it as unfortunate and a recipe for further escalation of the impasse.
But in a Facebook post Thursday, Franklin Cudjoe said the president’s statement shows a mark of forthrightness that will save the country from some avoidable crisis.
According to him “President Mahama’s statement about his resolve not to spend a dime outside the budget is the mark of forthrightness every leader should live with. If leaders did the obvious all the time, we would not need 40 year development plans”.
Mr. Cudjoe earlier cautioned that the formulation of a 40 year development plan is not the solution to Ghana’s development challenges by asserting that political parties have development targets in their manifestos and that Ghana will not need a 40 year development plan if politicians work with their manifestos.
Doctors across the country have called a partial strike with a threat to resign en masse if the government does not give them documented improved conditions of service.
Currently Out Patient Department services have been suspended and withdrawal of emergency services with begin tomorrow Friday August 7 as a prelude to resignation en masse.
By: Azongo Albert | A1radioonline.com | Ghana
