Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) trainees employed for the 2021 Population and Housing Census scheduled for Sunday, June 27, 2021 at the Gomoa East Constituency, have demonstrated against their leaders over unfair payment cuts.
In a video already circulating on social media, the trainees who started their training exercise from 31st of May 202 were seen protesting against the cut down of their allowances and per diems.
According to them, they were to receive transport allowances of Ghc 40.00 each day, which they have never received. They continued to shout that, their contract with the Ghana Statistical Service which amounted to Ghc 2,520 has also been slashed down to Ghc2,320 for the field trainees.
The trainees who were seen in a group agitating fiercely and called on their leaders for the issues to be resolved, else they will not continue with their training which is still ongoing at the KAAF University, in the Central Region of Ghana.
The aggrieved trainees petitioned the District officer at the Gomoa East Constituency, who was part of the training exercise for their issues to be resolved.
The census was expected to take place in 2020 but had to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of the exercise, the Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, has launched the countdown, dubbed “100 days to 2021 Population and Housing Census”.
According to the officials of Gomoa GSS, on the first day of training, trainees are marked with 30 Ghana cedis.
They said it was also stated that 30% of the lump sum of the T&T which is GHc 330.00 will be paid within the first one week, 40% will be paid within the second week of training and the last 30% will be paid within three days into the list of training.
They however assures trainers that all their grievances will be met and that it is their rights to ask.
He urged them to put any grievances on paper so that it will be forwarded to National.