Workers still struggle to make ends meet despite low inflation — NAGRAT President cries

Workers continue to struggle to make ends meet despite easing economic indicators, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Jacob Anaba, has said, warning that the agreed eight per cent increase in base pay for public sector workers in 2027 will offer limited relief if prices of goods and services continue to rise. He said the reality for many working-class Ghanaians was that their earnings were barely enough to sustain them for a month, making price stability critical to the success of the latest public sector pay agreement. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, November 2, Mr Anaba said the relatively low inflation rate and other improved economic indicators had influenced the negotiations but did not necessarily reflect the financial pressures facing workers.

“The risk of inflation, the economic parameters – today we know that all of them are very low. But the reality is that the working class find it difficult to survive for one month… ” he lamented. The government and organised labour have agreed on an eight per cent increase in base pay for public sector workers for 2027, following negotiations on the annual salary adjustment. Mr Anaba said the key concern now was whether prices would remain stable enough for workers to benefit from the increase. “What we are looking forward to is that prices of goods and services will remain stable. If not, then this is not sustainable,” he said. He added that organised labour had made it clear to the Minister of Finance and the government that any significant changes in economic conditions during the year could trigger fresh negotiations. “We have indicated to the Minister of Finance and Government that if anything happens within the year, we’ll come back and have a new negotiation for…