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Government is in a fix as it is torn between giving in to the demands of public sector workers and denying the workers in order to fulfil the demands of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) three-year bailout programme.

The IMF wants government to reduce the percentage of the wage bill to tax revenue from 50% as of the end of 2014 to 35%.

This requirement is seen as the nerve centre of the three-year IMF bailout because a bulging wage bill was the main reason government cited to apply for the bailout programme.

Currently, more than five workers’ unions are either on strike or have threatened one, demanding better conditions of service or the payment of delayed salaries.

Should government give in to the demands of the workers, the wage bill would even balloon further than the current 50% to tax revenue, which would negatively impact on the IMF bailout programme.

Recently, government said the public sector wage bill dropped from 70% of government tax revenue to 57% after a rigorous process to remove 'ghost names' or non-existing bank accounts from government payroll.

In March this year, President John Mahama told the Ghanaian population in Botswana, where he was on a three-day official state visit, that he has become impervious to threats of strikes and demonstrations in Ghana and would not yield to any of such threats.

Adopting what he calls a "dead-goat syndrome," the President said he would not be hoodwinked by such strategies by workers.

"I have seen more demonstrations and strikes in my first two years. I don't think it can get worse. It is said that when you kill a goat and you frighten it with a knife, it doesn't fear the knife because it is dead already.

"I have a dead-goat syndrome," he said.
The country has over the few years experienced a number of strikes and demonstrations from workers, most of whom protested against poor conditions of service.

The President said such demonstrations are part of strategies by workers' groups to tie the hands of government, especially in election years.

And when government yields to such threats, the economy and budget are thrown out of gear, only for the government to start tightening its belt after elections.
That will not be allowed in 2016, he promised.

GMA on strike
At the moment, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is demanding conditions of service.

NADMO workers not paid
Workers of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) who have been employed for 27 months now without pay are also up in arms demanding their salaries.

GHOSPA on strike
The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has announced an intended nationwide strike, saying that almost a year after the Chief of Staff directed the Finance Ministry to address grievances of pharmacists related to their placement on the Single Spine Salary Structure, the ministry has failed to adhere.

TEWU threatens strike
Also, the Teachers and Education Workers Union (TEWU) has given the government a one-month ultimatum to conclude negotiations on salaries and other conditions of service of members, or face their anger.

It warned that if by August government has not finalised all negotiations, the union would advise itself.

State Attorneys on strike
State Attorneys also declared an indefinite strike action, which is in force over poor conditions of service.

Over 150 lawyers at the Attorney-General's office say they are tired of the disappointment and contempt shown to them by the Finance Ministry, having started negotiations for over a year.

Junior nurses
Junior nurses also declared a sit-down strike over unpaid salaries yesterday.