Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong has expressed disappointment about the 12 labour unions protesting today over the Tier 2 pensions for refusing to hand over a petition on the issue.
Dr Sarpong said this after protesters converged at the Regional Coordinating Council today in Kumasi but refused to present any petition to the Regional Minister. The protestors carried placards that read: ‘Tier 2 is our ex-gratia’, ‘Na Tier- 2 no wo he’, ‘Tier 2 pension, give us our money’.
“The protesters have acted contrary to the initial plans. I don’t know why they are protesting against government,” the Regional Minister said.
A protest was also held in Accra over government’s handling of workers’ Tier 2 pension funds.
In October, workers declared an indefinite nationwide strike demanding that government hand over their pension money to a private scheme of their choosing for better management. Government obtained a court order compelling the workers to end their strike.
The state is seeking a proper interpretation of certain provisions of the Pensions Act (Act 766) and some clarifications on the second-tier pension scheme from the courts.
But Kingsley Animadu Darko, Regional Chairman of Coalition of Concerned Teachers explained that several petitions written to the President’s office have yielded no fruit so all they wanted was to chase their money.
More than 10 unions are involved in the pensions stand-off with government. They include the Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), Ghana Registered Nurses’ Association (GRNA), Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana Physician Assistants’ Association (GPAA), Ghana Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), and the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists (GRCRA).
Others include the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Coalition of Concerned Teachers (CCT), Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), and the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG).
By Akwasi Boduah
