The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu has debunked claims that the leadership of Organised Labour was bribed by President John Dramani Mahama to accept the 10% salary increment.
He has cautioned those who are accusing the union leaders of bribery to desist from it.
Mr Carbonu spoke exclusively with our labour affairs correspondent Daniel Opoku in Accra, on February 24.
In 2021 and 2022, Organised Labour came under severe criticism for accepting 4 and 7 percent salary increment respectively. Consequently, some union leaders were almost attacked by their members.
In 2023, government granted 30 percent and in 2024 it dropped to 25 percent. In 2025, President Mahama stepped into negotiations with Organinsed Labour on salary increment and convinced them to accept 10 percent until the economy bounces back.
Since then, leadership of Organised Labour has since been criticized for accepting the 10%. Carbonu said, the President begged Organised Labour to accept that percentage.
“Infact the President went beyond appeal and he was begging labour and these are President’s words. So, when the President left, labour deliberated on the matter and realized that this is no more the normal negotiations that we have been having that the President of the land has come to beg labour, so we could not push it the doldrums. So, labour bought into the President’s appeal. Where is the intimidation, where is the bribery, where is the manipulation here?” Mr Carbonu asked.
He added, “…when the President was coming, did he hold a porteumanto full of money to distribute? How can people talk like this?” he queried.
Mr Carbonu renewed the commitment of union leaders to demand higher salary increments in their subsequent negotiations.
