He said GNAT was also offered four-month special allowance instead of two-month allowance earlier agreed on.

Mr Adda told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the decision was conveyed to GNAT Executives, and it was then left for them to decide whether they accepted the new offer.

He said it was a better offer on which he expected to meet the GNAT Executive to come out with a concrete agreement.

GNAT on September 14, accused the government of shifting its position on the earlier agreement.

Mrs Irene Duncan-Adanusa, General Secretary of GNAT, told a press conference that after protracted negotiations with the CMB it finally reached an agreement on a 10-per cent upward adjustment across board for levels three to 22 to take effect from March 2005.

Another special allowance of 25 billion cedis per month to cushion the effect of any shock or shortfall on the employees was also offered. That allowance was to be paid from September 2005 to December 2005 in addition to an upward review of reimbursed allowances, she said.

However, she said, the 10-per cent increase which was slated to be paid in March 2005 was shifted to June 2005, while the 25 billion cedis to be paid for four months, from September to December was moved to November to December.