Gov’t pays GH¢485m as COLA to public sector workers

An amount of GH¢485 million has been paid as a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) to public sector workers, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has said.

Government in July 2022 reached a middle ground with organised labour on the payment of COLA.

A meeting held between the leadership of the labour unions and the Fair Wages and salaries commission agreed on a 15% allowance of the base pay instead of the 20% being demanded by the worker unions.

Per the agreement, the Controller and Accountant General has confirmed the payment of the said amount(GH¢485 million) which takes retrospective effect(July and August).

Below is the Statement

GOVERNMENT PAYS COST OF LIVING (COLA) ALLOWANCE

1. Pursuant to the approval given by the Ministry of Finance on 1st August 2022, following the Agreement signed between Government and Organized Labour on 14th July 2022, the Controller and Accountant-General has paid the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to workers in Public Service Institutions.

2. The COLA which represents fifteen percent (15%) of the 2022 basic salary was paid for the months of July and August.

3. The total amount paid for COLA for the two months is Four Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Ghana Cedis (GH¢485,000,000.00).