MPOHOR WASSA EAST DISTRICT: Government To Implement Single Spine Pay Policy

The Deputy Minister for Information Hon. James Agyenim Boateng has said that Government is committed at implementing the single spine pay policy. He said all public sector workers will benefit from the policy once the mapping up exercise are completed by the various departments, adding that the full implementation of the pay policy has been delayed due to the delay in the map-up exercise been conducted by the various department.

Hon. Agyenim Boateng made the statement at an interactive forum with heads of decentralized departments and the staff of the Mpohor Wassa East District Assembly at Daboase in the Western Region. The purpose of the forum was to educate and explain government policies as well as to spell out government achievement since assumption of office on January 7, 2009.

The Deputy Minister said although the government of His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills inherited a near collapsed economy, through the prudent management of the economy, Government have been able to achieve a single digit inflation in just 22 months in office saying that inflation have been declining for sixteen (16) consecutive times.

He said in spite of the huge debt inherited by the previous administration such as the GH₵848 million owe to the Tema Oil Refinery, Arrears of Railway workers, Road contractors and Newly trained teachers and Nurses, the Government have been able to pay and made progress as far as the socio-economic development of the state are concern.

According to Mr. Agyenim Boateng social intervention programmes such as free school uniforms and exercise books, increase in the capitation grant and expansion of the school feeding programme are measures to bring meaningful and quality education to children coming from deprived communities.

On infrastructure, the Deputy Minister for Information said government acknowledged the importance of the Rail sector to the people of the Western Region and the entire country, explaining that plans are far advanced to revamp the rail sector especially Western, Central and Eastern corridor to facilitate the movement of goods and services. He also said currently the Accra Tema shuttle service is in full operation to ease traffic in the city.

Touching on the Agriculture sector, he said 86 agriculture mechanization Centers has been established throughout the country to provide farmers with effective and modernized method of farming. He added that farmers have been provided with improved seedlings, fertilizers, irrigation system among many others to enhance bumper harvest. The Minister said government has increased the producer price for cocoa farmers to check smuggling of cocoa to Neighboring country, adding that plans are advanced to establish pension scheme for cocoa farmers. A policy he said will be extended to other farmers in the country to serve as a motivation for their efforts.

The workers assured the Minister, that they will play their role effectively and efficiently as policy implementers to ensure that the Government’s Better Ghana Agenda succeeds.