‘Better Ghana’ at Bank of Ghana

Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur is an Economist and Governor of the Bank of Ghana

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday March 7, 2010
THE NDC came into office promising a ‘Better Ghana’ and although it may be struggling to fulfill this promise, DAILY GUIDE has learnt that, staff of Bank of Ghana (BoG) are already enjoying the ‘Better Ghana.’

This is because, contrary to President John Evans Atta Mills’ mantra of austerity measures in anticipation of better times ahead, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah- Arthur, has awarded himself a whopping 45percent salary increase.

His staff at the bank is also enjoying the same increment.

In addition, a one-month gross salary welcome bonus for the Governor has been put in place.

Furthermore, staffs are also enjoying a 20percent increase in rent allowance, whilst other public service workers were offered a paltry 17 percent.

DAILY GUIDE’s source at the bank says the decision took effect from this month.

At this difficult time, when most Ghanaians do not know where their next meal will come from, the Governor is paying his staff more than they are due, in an apparent attempt to gain the favour of his staff, who are already the highest paid public servants in the country.

Because they thought the decision would raise eyebrows, the BoG waited for the new minimum wage to be announced before implementing its decision.

Interestingly, the BoG took the decision to increase its conditions of service at a time when other workers in the public sector were being compelled by the government to accept a meager 17 percent increment ,thus raising questions about the motive of the high increment.


The new National Daily Minimum Wage announced by the National Tripartite Committee in January, is GH¢3.11 and it took effect from February 1, 2010.

The 17 per cent increment from GH¢2.65 was arrived at after fruitful deliberations between labour unions and employers.

The communiqué, issued at the end of a meeting in Accra, was jointly signed by Stephen Amoanor Kwao, former Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Rev Dr. Joyce Aryee, Vice President of Ghana Employers' Association and Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary, Ghana Trade Union Congress (GTUC).

"The tax-free threshold has now increased from GH¢240 to GH¢1,008 per annum," it further announced.

The NTC reiterated its commitment to the improvement of incomes and productivity in both the private and public sectors.

Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com