Friday, July 24, 2009

Ghana@50 drivers smell rat over unpaid allowances

Some drivers who were drafted from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to drive dignitaries during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations are calling for their pound of flesh.

The drivers allege that four months after the epoch-making and grandiose event they are yet to be paid their allowances.The aggrieved drivers said compared to billions of cedis spent on Jaguars, BMWs and Benzes for the event, the amount owed them is just a peanut.

"But anytime we ask, we are told the money is in the pipeline. How long is the pipe such that after four months, the money is yet to arrive?", one driver who pleaded anonymity said on phone.

In reaction, the Public Affairs Officer of the Ghana @50 Secretariat, Mr. Henry Wellington Okyne confirmed that indeed some drivers are yet to receive their allowances and assured them that allowances are at an advanced stage of processing.

He said the secretariat is not self-accounting; therefore such issues go through the treasury. Mr. Okyne said payment is not directly from the secretariat but from the Ministries of Finance and Manpower Development, Youth and Employment.

"The issue is not only about the drivers, but applies to all people who performed various duties such as those in the hospitality industry. As and when the money is ready they are processed and paid to the recipients in batches", he explained.

He added, "We have begun paying them through the Finance Ministry."

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