Frustrated by skyrocketing rent, rising prices of goods, and the high cost of essential services, Concerned Public Sector Workers in Asutifi North District have petitioned the District Chief Executive, calling for urgent interventions to ease the unbearable economic pressure threatening their livelihoods.
Members of the workers’ group include officers from the Ghana Ambulance Service, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Fire Service, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, and the Police Service, among other public institutions.
Some workers in the private sector, including artisans, business operators, apprentices, and broadcasters in the district, also thronged the Asutifi North District Assembly to show their support for the petitioners.
The Group also petitioned all traditional authorities in the Asutifi North District, the rent control department, the various youth associations in the enclave, the Kenyasi Development Association, and all media houses in the Ahafo region.
The high cost of goods, rent, and services is having several negative impacts on the workers in Asutifi North District:
Financial Hardship: Many workers are struggling to meet their basic needs, including food, housing, transportation, and healthcare, as their salaries remain stagnant while prices continue to rise.
Low Morale and Productivity: The financial stress is affecting workers’ morale and job satisfaction, which can lead to reduced productivity and commitment to their duties.
Debt and Financial Insecurity: Some workers are being forced into debt or are unable to save for the future, increasing their vulnerability to financial shocks.
Health and Well-being: The economic strain can lead to mental stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems, as workers find it difficult to afford proper nutrition and healthcare.
Migration and Attrition: There is a growing risk that skilled workers may leave the district or even the public sector in search of better-paying opportunities elsewhere, potentially affecting service delivery in the area.
Community Impact: When workers struggle, it affects the entire community, public services such as education, healthcare, and local governance may suffer from understaffing or demotivated personnel.
Presenting the petition to the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hafiz Dauda, in Kenyasi, the convener of the Group, Nicholas Antwi, a teacher, enumerated key pressing issues that need urgent attention and solutions.
High rent: The rent for accommodation in the communities is excessively high, making it difficult for us to afford basic necessities compared to our colleagues working in other towns in the Ahafo region, especially the capital, Goaso.
A Single-room self-contained accommodation in Kenyasi currently costs between GH600 and GH900 per month, while major commercial towns such as Goaso, Sunyani, and Techiman charge between GH150 and GH250.
We urge the Rent Control Authority, the chiefs, and the DCE to intervene and regulate rent increases, ensuring that they are reasonable and justifiable.
High cost of goods and services: The cost of goods and services in the area, including printing, hairdressing, haircuts, and transportation, is very expensive, further straining our already limited resources.
How can a haircut in Kenyasi cost GH35 when other mining communities charge GH20? A tuber of yam is sold for GH50, while one piece of watermelon is sold for GH100 here. How can we survive in these conditions?
We request that measures be taken to reduce the cost of essential goods and services. Comparing these services to other towns, especially the regional capital, nothing explains why we are really suffering.
Health Allowance: As government workers affected by Newmont mining activities, we are directly impacted by the negative effects of the mine, and we demand compensation from the company to support our medical needs.
As we speak, Nicholas Antwi stated that many public sector workers have left the district due to these pressing issues, noting that most of our colleagues are currently seeking transfers from the area.
“We, the undersigned government workers stationed in Kenyasi, Ntotoroso, Wamahinso, and Gyedu communities, humbly submit this petition to bring to your attention the hardships we face due to the high cost of living, which is caused by the mining activities of Newmont” the convernor added.
DOIII Emmanuel Quansah of the Fire Service urged the stakeholders in the district to ensure that a health allowance is provided to the public sector affected by the mining activities of Newmont.
“We are optimistic that the cost of rent for accommodation will be reduced by at least 50 percent while the prices of goods and services, including foodstuffs, are reconsidered,” he reiterated.
Eric Anane, an officer with the Immigration Service, said they are willing to work with you to find solutions that benefit both the community and public sector workers.
He also urged stakeholders to take immediate action to address these issues in order to provide relief to public sector workers in these towns, noting that most of our colleagues have left this area due to exorbitant prices of goods and services.
The DCE for Asutifi North, Hafiz Dauda, in his response, pledged to consult every possible strategy to engage key stakeholders for deliberations on these issues, saying that “Most of the assembly staff are also affected by the price hikes of goods and services.”
He expressed gratitude to the Group for using civil processes to register their grievances, indicating that together we can make Asutifi North District great and strong.
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