The Central Gonja District Assembly has ceased paying its contract workers a monthly wage of GHC100 following directives from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

The decision came to light during the PAC's public hearings in Tamale, which started on Monday and are part of a broader review of the Auditor-General’s reports for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

The Auditor-General’s report had revealed that the Assembly was paying its contract workers significantly below the legal minimum wage and was also in arrears for over a year.

This led to a directive from PAC Chairman James Klutse Avedzi, who demanded that the Assembly comply with the legal wage standards.

“Workers must be paid according to the law. The Central Gonja District Assembly must adhere to the minimum wage requirements immediately,” Avedzi stated during the hearings.

In response, District Chief Executive Hon. Iddrisu Salia confirmed that corrective measures have been taken. He assured the Committee that the Assembly has now recruited permanent staff and is paying them in accordance with the legal minimum wage.

“We have fully complied with the recommendations. All workers are now permanent, and they are paid the legal minimum wage,” Salia said.

This development aligns with the recent announcement from the National Tripartite Committee (NTC), which set the 2024 National Daily Minimum Wage (NDMW) at GHS18.15, a 22% increase over the 2023 rate. Effective January 1, 2024, all organizations must adjust their wages to meet this new rate. Non-compliance will result in legal sanctions.

The PAC’s hearings also address various infractions reported by the Auditor-General, including unearned salaries, unsupported payments, and uncollected rents from institutions such as Senior High Schools, Technical Universities, Colleges of Education, and Polytechnics across the Northern, North East, Upper West, and Upper East Regions.