Workers of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) have expressed strong dissatisfaction over what they describe as an unjustified delay in the implementation of their agreed conditions of service, several years after reaching a deal with management.
According to the workers, despite operating under harsh and sometimes hazardous conditions, management has consistently failed to honour its commitments to improve their welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved staff, Pastin Ahenkan Egyiri, Divisional Chairman of the Public Services Workers’ Union at GMet, vowed that the workers will explore every legitimate means to ensure full enforcement of the agreement.
“Our members work in very tough environments, some get caught in rainstorms while on duty, and others even risk snake bites in remote areas,” he said.
“Despite all this, we remain committed to providing accurate meteorological services to the public. But just two months ago, we observed that management was not forthcoming with any updates, and we cannot sit aloof and allow this to continue.”
GMet workers are demanding the immediate rollout of the conditions of service package, alongside the payment of long-outstanding allowances.
These include car and motorbike maintenance, overtime, and risk-related benefits, some dating back as far as 2021.
Growing Sector-Wide Discontent
The frustrations of GMet staff echo growing unrest across Ghana’s public service.
Earlier this month, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) embarked on a nationwide strike over similar grievance.
Though the strike was later suspended, it severely disrupted healthcare delivery and heightened pressure on government to act on longstanding labour commitments.
Observers warn that failure to resolve these disputes could lead to industrial actions in other essential services, particularly those operating under safety-critical mandates like meteorology and aviation.
GMet workers are preparing to formally petition the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, the agency’s supervisory body.
If their demands remain unmet, particularly on delayed allowances and stalled service condition reforms the union may proceed with industrial action. Such a move could jeopardize aviation safety nationwide, given airports’ reliance on real-time meteorological data.
Key stakeholders are therefore urging swift dialogue between government, GMet management, and labour representatives to prevent service disruptions and restore trust.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
