The Member of Parliament for the Akim Oda Constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has urged President John Dramani Mahama and his presidential staff to consider salary reductions in solidarity with cocoa farmers following the recent decrease in cocoa prices.
Acquah argued that such a gesture would demonstrate the President’s genuine concern for cocoa farmers, whom he claimed have been unfairly treated.
Contributing to the debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the MP said cocoa farmers were unable to celebrate Ghana Independence Day due to the low prices they receive for their produce.
“A celebration that cocoa farmers cannot be part of… they have suffered so much to develop the cocoa sector, yet the President says he cannot pay them the worth of their toil,” Acquah stated.
He further argued that the burden of salary cuts should not be limited to top executives and board members of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) but should also extend to the executive arm of government.
Acquah said the Minority Caucus recently engaged with cocoa farmers in the Eastern Region, where the farmers asked them to convey a message to President Mahama.
According to him, the farmers said if the government intends to reduce cocoa prices, then salary reductions should begin with the President and his appointees.
“Let it start from the Jubilee House, through the ministers, DCEs and everywhere. It should not be only about the COCOBOD Senior Staff Association losing 10 per cent of their salaries while they complain about the decision,” he said.
Acquah also recalled that under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, government appointees experienced salary cuts during periods of national economic difficulty.
“We all had salary cuts. So if the President says he took this decision in a painful manner, the pain will truly be felt if it starts with his salary and continues with the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, ministers, DCEs and other appointees,” he added.
Source: rainbowradioonline