Austin Gamey: No Ghana Card, no pay directive a recipe for chaos

A labour expert, Austin Gamey, is warning of possible resistance in the public sector over the decision not to pay any workers who do not have the National Identity Card (Ghana Card), starting from December.

The Controller and Accountant General gave the directive on Monday, saying the objective is to deliver secure and verified payroll services to government employees.

He also explained that the move will help reduce the risk of undeserving payments or claims in the public sector.

However, speaking to Asaase News’s Karen Dodoo-Antwi, Gamey said the rationale behind the directive to halt the payment of defaulting public sector workers is untenable.

“They belong to unions and associations. They definitely are expected to protect their economic and well-being. Even the employer is enjoined to protect the interest of the worker. And that being the case, as the law prescribes rightly, if you don’t pay him or her, they will make noise,” he said.

Gamey added: “And also, traditionally, people have a certain attitude of sometimes sabotaging. So, if you make them feel unacceptable, unwelcome because of the identity card while I render to you a legitimate job, certainly there can be commotion.

“If the number of people [is] quite up – let’s say from ten, 15, 20 going – and they are not paid, their association and unions may register a protest, and if they are not getting attention, there can be consequences for a demonstration.”