Scores of workers in Tema have joined a campaign advocating for the expansion of the Article 71 Office Holders Salary and Emolument structure.

The campaign, known as “Don't expunge but rather expand Article 71 Office Holders,” seeks to include public and civil servants in the structure to rectify salary distortions and imbalances among government employees.

Workers, primarily public and civil servants, have called upon various worker associations and unions, including the Ghana Medical Association, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), and the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), to support this advocacy.

They have urged organizations like the Communication Workers Union (CWU), Public Service Workers Union (PSWU), Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nurses and Midwifery Council, and Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) to actively participate in this effort.

The Ghana Federation of Labour recently recommended that the government enlarge the Article 71 Office Holders salary and emolument structure rather than abolish it.

Mr. Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of the Federation, emphasized the importance of including all public and civil servants in the scheme to ensure equitable benefits for all government workers.

Dr. William Mensah-Ansah, an industrialist, stressed the urgency of addressing salary distortions and ensuring that government employees receive fair compensation for their hard work.

He noted that political officeholders have benefited from Article 71 provisions, while many public workers struggle with inadequate emoluments.

Madam Noami Mereku, a civil servant, praised the recommendation and urged labor unions to launch a relentless campaign, supported by compelling arguments, to include all government workers in the Article 71 Office Holders salary and emolument structure.

She emphasized the need for a unified system that treats all government workers equally.

Mr. Isaac Antwi, a Pharmacist Assistant, highlighted the challenging conditions under which government workers often operate and expressed the belief that they deserve better compensation.

Workers from various sectors echoed similar sentiments and called on all labor unions to collaborate to achieve the noble advocacy of expanding the Article 71 officeholders' structure.

Article 71 office holders encompass high-ranking officials, including the President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of Parliament (MPs), Ministers of State, political appointees, and certain public servants with salaries funded by the Consolidated Fund, enjoying special constitutional privileges. The determination of their salaries and allowances is governed by specific constitutional provisions.