The Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has counseled government to be proactive in solving the issues surrounding the controversial second tier pension of workers.
He criticized Mahama-led administration for handling the second tier pension of workers poorly, which has resulted in an indefinite strike by some labour unions.
Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the National Democratic Party (NDP) at his Nima residence in Accra, Nana Addo observed that the situation is creating tension on the labour front.
He said the developments are “very, very worrying for all of us, especially for us in the party because we worked on the legislation and it’s now in place.”
According to him, the issues which have arisen from the existing pension structure should be a source of grave concern for Ghanaians.
“These are matters that all of us should be able to work together to be able to make sure that we get a good deal for the people of our country,” he advised.
Twelve labour unions declared an indefinite strike to government’s failure to pay their tier two pension contributions after months of demands and complaints.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu alleged that funds used by Fortiz to purchase Merchant Bank were taken from the tier two pension funds.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said government was only deceiving workers and “bidding for time” as it solicits for funds elsewhere to replace the tier two pension funds.
But government has vehemently dismissed the allegations.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Communications Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, denied the accusation and insisted the funds were safe at the Bank of Ghana.
“…We wish to state that per information available to government, this claim is totally false, absolutely unfounded, mischievous and was only invented to justify earlier falsehood.”
The Minister challenged persons spreading such false claims to “boldly step forward to contradict their position.”
-Citifmonline