Civilian employees with the Ministry of Defence are suffering under harsh killer conditions of service and much other inhuman treatment meted out to them by their military counterparts.
DAYBREAK sources indicate that personnel of the civilian establishment are denied several opportunities including training, outside courses available to colleague civilians at the Ministry of Defence.
At a time when inclusivity is becoming a watchword to growing efficiency in organizations, what we find at the Ministry of Defence is a case of things being pushed down their throats for them to swallow. They are dying in silence because they are voiceless.
DAYBREAK learnt that no one listens to their plight, because they do not have a union, again, like their counterparts in the Civil Service.
As a result of this, management takes decisions and thinks for them even though those decisions are not favourable to them. No respect is accorded them whatsoever, as the soldiers tend to refer to them as “fucking civilians”.
The salaries of CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES of the Ministry of Defence are nothing to write home about. They live from hand to mouth and are always frustrated.
The morale of personnel has dwindled over the decades as a result of the harsh conditions they find themselves in. What makes them happy once in a lifetime is the annual increments across the board by the government to all public sector workers,
DAYBREAK learnt that even that comes with an exorbitant income tax deduction, leaving them at the end of the day with virtually nothing.
They can only boast of just two allowances on their payslips, which are “CLOTHING and RATION” that comes with a meagre amount which they find very insulting and disheartening. The clothing allowance they used to enjoy was GH¢5 until it was increased to GH¢40 as a result of an inferior uniform that was introduced and sold to them and deducted from source.
One angry source, speaking to DAYBREAK queried which company or organization sells uniform to its employees.
Meanwhile, DAYBREAK learnt, uniforms are distributed to their military counterparts every year for free, while the civilians are made to wear the easily faded uniform they are made to buy under compulsion.
The RATION allowance a civilian enjoys is GH¢10 and this has been in existence over decades and has seen no change. Their military counterparts used to enjoy the same RATION of GH¢40 and it was increased to GH¢120, leaving out the civilians.
These kinds of treatment make civilians feel less important and not respected.
DAYBREAK further gathered that an 11.1% compensation for three (3) days in thirty (30) working days for the civilian employees by the fair wages and salary since 2011 has been hanging until it was effected January 2018, and that also appeared without the arrears.
Right after it was effected, a notice was circulated that efforts were being made to get the arrears approved for payment. Unfortunately, this has been the music the civilians’ employees have been dancing to all the time. They are fed up and demand a release of these long awaiting arrears as soon as possible.
The funny aspect is that, if the soldiers were a part of these arrears, the HIGH COMMAND would have ensured of its release quickly. Indeed, the civilians are suffering.
“Most of them were DEMOTED without cause and reason after rising through the ranks and between GH¢200 and GH¢300 were slashed off the peanut they earn. Most are these people suffered trauma and depression. They committed no crime. They were told it was administration lapses. Must we suffer like this? Was government told about this? Where do all these deductions for over four years now go to? Definitely into someone’s pocket. Couldn’t other measures have been instituted than to cut off our salaries unexpectedly? Our God is alive. These affected civilians are demanding a reinstatement and a refund of all monies deducted unduly so far, as soon as possible. Someone must be held accountable for this, if not the whole GHANA ARMED FORCES,” DAYBREAK was told.
Again, they do not enjoy risk allowance but the soldiers do, even though they are also at risk working under the same environment.
The civilians move from their homes far and near to work, pay their rents and utilities but do not enjoy what they call the FAMILY LODGING ALLOWANCES (FLA). Soldiers who are not living in military accommodation and come from their homes just like their civilian counterparts do enjoy this allowance. Is this not discriminatory?
A civilian will do the same course with a soldier but the soldier will be upgraded and paid allowances for while the civilian is side-lined. Although civilians receive much lower salaries, they pay higher school fees for their wards than their military counterparts in all the Ghana Armed Forces Basic Schools. Retired civilians unlike their military counterparts do not enjoy free medical services at the 37 military hospital.
Again, some civilians will even teach the soldiers and will not enjoy any allowances but the student soldier after the course will fully benefit. The civilians are now enlightened because they can boast of at least diploma, degrees and masters and even PhDs. But they are treated with much contempt.
They are therefore calling on the government to intervene as soon as possible.
