Mahama expresses shock at the ‘criminal’ economic mismanagement he has discovered perpetrated by the Akufo Addo administration

President John Mahama has strongly criticized the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration, accusing it of “criminally mishandling” the economy.

Speaking at the National Tripartite Committee meeting at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment—where the government announced a 10% increase in base pay for public sector workers, effective March 2025—Mahama expressed shock at the economic mismanagement he has uncovered.

“We all knew the economy was in crisis, but some of the things I am uncovering myself have been a criminal mishandling of our economy. Ghana is now a crime scene,” he stated.

“How can a government be so reckless? I cannot understand,” he added.

This pay rise marks the second adjustment in less than a year, with the last one occurring in 2024 when the government approved a 23% increase aimed at addressing rising cost of living.

Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Rashid Pelpuo in his announcement said the increment takes effect on March 1, 2025

On February 4, 2025, the National Tripartite Committee (NTC), comprising representatives from the government, employers, and organised labour/associations, began negotiations to determine the minimum wage for the year 2025.

These negotiations are critical, as the minimum wage serves as the baseline for wages across various sectors, particularly impacting low-income workers in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

The agreed minimum wage will also influence future deliberations on base pay for public sector employees, a process scheduled to follow the completion of the current minimum wage discussions.