TUC HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA€™S DECISION

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has expressed concerns over President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to abolish fuel allowances for government appointees, warning that without alternative support measures, the move could hamper their productivity.

Speaking to 3news on July 15, TUC Secretary General Joshua Ansah acknowledged that while cutting allowances may help reduce government spending, it could also impede appointees' ability to perform their duties effectively. “Maybe this decision is good, but it is going to affect their work. There should be measures in place to assist the appointees in doing their job,” he noted.

The cancellation, announced by President Mahama as part of cost-saving reforms to redirect funds into priority sectors, has drawn mixed reactions from organised labour and education sector leaders. Organised Labour welcomed the intention but called for transparency on how the savings would be utilised. Mr. Ansah emphasised, “If really, they make the savings and use it wisely then it is a positive sign, but where the savings will not be used wisely then it is better the President did not even cut the allowances at all.”

Mr. Ansah further warned against extending the policy to public and civil servants, stressing that workers have already made significant sacrifices and should not bear additional burdens.

Meanwhile, Angel Carbonu, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), urged that the policy be backed by legislation to prevent future governments from reversing it. “It should be a law so that when President Mahama is no more, we don’t go back to the old order,” Carbonu said.

Thomas Tanko Musah, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), echoed calls for clarity on the recruitment conditions of government appointees, cautioning that poorly contextualised implementation could undermine effectiveness.

With base pay negotiations on the horizon, labour leaders are urging government to ensure that the cost-saving measure does not adversely impact collective bargaining or workers’ benefits.

President Mahama’s directive forms part of broader efforts to demonstrate fiscal discipline and prioritise public investment. The policy targets political appointees with the aim of freeing resources for essential sectors, but stakeholders await further details on implementation and whether Parliament will legislate to make the reforms binding on futuree administrations.