The Greater Accra arm of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) has decided to picket the Flagstaff House on 1 March 2017.
The group’s decision follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum given to the government by the leadership of National Service personnel to ensure that an increment of their allowance sanctioned by the erstwhile Mahama administration in the lead-up to the 7 December 2016 elections is implemented.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), before leaving power, increased the allowance of service personnel by 60 per cent. Personnel were to receive a monthly allowance of GHS559 from the GHS350 they currently receive.
A few weeks ago, the service personnel expressed disappointment with government that their January allowance did not reflect the increase.
The personnel said they were “shocked” when they visited their banks and their accounts were credited with the usual GHS350 “at a time when the 12 per cent increment for public sector workers has taken effect amidst the rising prices of crude on the world market, the rise in inflation, cost of utility and the cost of living, which have affected every sphere of our lives as personnel and Ghanaians in general”.
Despite the anger of the personnel, their leadership urged calm and gave the government and the Scheme a seven-day ultimatum to rectify the anomaly but to no avail, thus the decision by the Greater Accra branch to picket on 1 March.
Below is a statement of the group rallying support for the picket:
Press release,
22nd February 2017
NATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNEL TO PICKET FLAGSTAFF HOUSE
The leadership of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) G/A would want to, by this release, call its members, the media, parents, students, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to join us as we picket the Flagstaff House .
You would recall that on the 7th of February, we gave the government a seven-day ultimatum which elapsed on Thursday. The scheme and government after the seven-day ultimatum have still not been conclusive on the subject matter. This has informed our decision to picket the Flagstaff House as part of the series of actions we spoke about during our press conference.
The intended date, time, and venue are as follows:
Date: 1st March 2017
Time: 10am
Convergent point: National Theatre
We look forward to seeing you there
NASPA – READY TO SERVE
SIGNED
Kojo S.A Danquah
(President)
Prince K.
(Vice President)
Ganoo Redeemer
(General Secretary)
Selesi I Adablah
(Financial Secretary)
Boakye Michael
(Organising Sec.)
Magdalene Kotey
(Wocom)
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Please, the fact of the matter is that, we are graduates from different background and tertiary institutions. My fellow colleagues, maybe at your service post you can confidently say that u don't buy even a common pure water to drink. It's time we recognize the qualification and the duty of the service in the hands of graduates. I pledge if the service should be base on time or hourly bases. We the service personnel's in some institutions work better than the employees. The government should increase the money because its just a pocket money for less than a year not a full year. Mahama serve mother Ghana in high esteem nut that shouldn't break the chain of making the young ones a burden in their heart. Our hawkers on the streets earn more than we the service personnel's earn. We beg that this change shouldn't be a burden of do - i- do- you
When Mahama was in power he told the national service personnel that he was not ready to pay any money that was not budgeted for hence he did not pay them. If Mahama thinks there were money why didn't he pay them months before he left office but waited till he lost and he was on his way out that he increased those salaries knowing very well that he was not going to be around to be bothered by the payment. Also the personnel should understand that these monies were not budgeted for so there is no money to pay. If the government intends to pay, it should be embodied in the budget to be read next week.
I doubt if these national Service executives are really educated. I demand answers to these questions 1. Who prepared the 1st quarter budget of 2017 2. When was their allowance increased 3. Is Nana Addo a magician or a wizard to pay monies which was not captured by those who prepared the 1st quarter budget 4. When will the current administration come out with it's 1st budget 5. When was the public sector workers salary increased in 2016 Pls help me with the answers These people have completed various tertiary institutions in Gh ,hmmm What at all were they taught or they have ceased thinking God help us
Shd the pain Mahama felt be different from Nana's. Sasabonsam. Or Mahama is not Ghanaian?
DEMONSTRATIONS??!! NANA WILL SOON HAVE THE " ***barred word*** SYNDROME".GHANAIANS ENJOYED DEMONSTRATIONS UNDER MAHAMA AND I HOPE THEY DON'T CONTINUE UNDER "COMPETENT" NANA.
Am surprised at those service personnel for dreaming the government would have to pay that 60% increment. If they deserve that monies why didn't John Mahama pay it in 2012-2015. God save Ghana...
Nonsins, What sense is in this ones brains ?? If John Mahama and his NDC gov't did increased your allowance then I think it is better you 1azy people goes them to collect it from them since they didn't leave a budget for that increases .
At times I'm tempted to think that Ghanaians as a nation doesn't deserve democracy because we in turn abuse it. A military rule would have suited us best.
National service allowance....?? When we are thinking about salary arrears for some years you people are talking about national service...you should forget about that money...go to that incompetent one term president and tell him to pay you guys...nana addo please dont mind them
were those increase factor into their three months budget, if not why picketing at the Flagstaff house? you should rather channeled your anger to former president mahama and the finance minister who did that increment. You should give us a break