‘I Will Increase Salaries By Cutting Government Expenditure’ – Bawumia Assures TUC
Dr. Bawumia Vows to Increase Public Sector Salaries by Reducing Government Expenditure
The 2024 flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has committed to increasing public sector salaries by implementing significant reductions in government expenditure if he wins the upcoming general elections and becomes the President of Ghana.
In a recent engagement with the leadership of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Accra, Dr. Bawumia outlined his strategy to create fiscal space for salary increments.
“I am very keen on reducing government expenditure so that the fiscal space will be created to increase the salaries of workers,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia elaborated on his plan, emphasizing a targeted reduction in government expenditure by at least 3 percent of GDP, equivalent to approximately GH¢30 billion over the next four years. He also committed to limiting the number of government ministers to no more than 50, as part of efforts to streamline the size of the government.
“I have made it clear that I intend to reduce government expenditure and the size of the government by at least 3 percent of GDP, which equates to about GH¢30 billion over the next four years. Additionally, I will ensure there are no more than 50 ministers, aiming to decrease the size of the government,” Dr. Bawumia asserted.
The Vice President also assured the TUC of his commitment to safeguarding the public purse and efficiently allocating public funds towards socially beneficial and impactful projects. This dialogue with the TUC was aimed at soliciting their views to shape his manifesto for the upcoming election.
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted his vision for industrial support, particularly in the renewable energy sector. He proposed initiatives to boost local manufacturing, specifically in the production of solar panels. “When we talk about two thousand megawatts, we are talking about a whole lot of solar panels, so Ghana should not just import solar panels. The technology exists for us to manufacture solar panels in Ghana,” he explained.
In response, the Secretary General of the TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah, expressed the union’s readiness to collaborate with the next government on policies, especially in the area of job creation. He endorsed Dr. Bawumia’s campaign message, describing it as positive and significant for the country.
“Ideas, systems, and institutions are ingredients for transforming a country. Let me maintain that Dr. Bawumia’s ‘It is Possible’ campaign message is a very positive message and very important for Ghana,” Dr. Baah remarked.
Dr. Baah also called on the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to shift its focus from inflation targeting to job creation, highlighting the critical role the BoG plays in economic transformation. “We think that the Bank of Ghana should stop its overreliance on inflation targeting and focus more on job creation because the BoG has a major role to play,” he stated.