KEY POINTS
- Hassan Ayariga pledges a GH¢5,000 minimum salary and bi-weekly wage system.
- The APC accuses the NDC of stealing their 24-hour economy policy.
- The APC promises to cancel the government’s “Gold for Oil” initiative, calling it fraudulent.
Hassan Ayariga, the Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), launched his 2024 manifesto on Sunday night, pledging to transform Ghana’s economy with a GH¢5,000 minimum salary and bi-weekly salary payments.
The manifesto, titled “The Nation’s Manifesto,” is built on the theme “Transforming Ghana and Restoring Hope” and was unveiled at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Auditorium.
Minimum salary pledge
Ayariga promised that if elected, he would implement a minimum salary of GH¢5,000. He also plans to introduce a bi-weekly salary payment system, where workers would receive wages every two weeks instead of the current monthly system. In addition, Ayariga said he would increase the minimum wage from the current GH¢18 to between GH¢150 and GH¢300.
According to Graphic Online, the APC leader criticized the current salary structure in Ghana, stating that it falls short of meeting basic needs. “Salaries in Ghana today are appalling and do not even cover the basic needs of workers,” Ayariga noted in his address to the public.
A key point in Ayariga’s manifesto launch was his claim that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had “stolen” the 24-hour economy policy from the APC. According to the APC’s vice-presidential candidate, Samuel Worlanyo Mensah, the APC introduced the concept of a 24-hour economy as far back as 2016, well before it became a talking point for the NDC.
“The 24-hour economy was introduced by Hassan Ayariga in 2016 and 2024. It is not for the NDC. It is a stolen manifesto policy by the NDC,” Mensah stated during the event.
Criticism of Gold for Oil policy
The APC also aimed the government’s “Gold for Oil” initiative, describing it as a fraudulent scheme that enriches a few individuals while leaving the rest of the population burdened by high fuel prices. Furthermore, the APC’s vice-presidential candidate vowed that, if victorious in the 2024 elections, the party would cancel the policy, which they believe has unfairly benefited middlemen.
As the Electoral Commission cleared Ayariga and 12 other candidates to contest the 2024 Presidential election, the APC candidate used the platform to highlight his vision for transforming the country’s economy. In addition, he emphasized the importance of improving wages and addressing economic challenges that affect the daily lives of Ghanaians.
