Former Finance Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo says the new salary increases announced by the Kufuor administration was ill-timed.

With just a day to leave office, President JA Kufuor announced 16-32 per cent increases in salaries for workers in the public and civil service.

The increases formed part of the implementation of the single spine salary structure which has been deliberated upon for the past two years.

Even though he supports the implementation of the new salary structure, Mr. Maafo told JoyFM the decision should have been left for the incoming government.

With the global economic recession, the former finance minister reckons any increases in expenditure, especially the wage bills, without corresponding increases in revenue could be suicidal for the incoming administration.

“There should have been a silent memorandum to the NDC detailing what has been discussed and agreed, for them to have a look at it and incorporate it in the budget.”

He further stressed, the past government should have initiated a debate for the implementation of the policy in October last year before its implementation.

Mr. Maafo however,advised the new administration to quickly negotiate with workers in order to have a common ground in the implementation of a policy which the economy could sustain.