President Mahama must listen to us -Organized Labour

Dr. Kofi Asamoah

Members of the Organized Labour say they expect government to heed to their demand for downward review of the hikes in utility tariffs after their nationwide streets protest on Wednesday.

Hundreds of Ghanaian public sector workers comprising ten labour unions abandoned their post to express their anger and frustrations over the recent 59.2% and 67.2 % increment in electricity and water tariffs by the Mahama administration.

They claimed that government is impoverishing them through excessive killer taxes.

In Accra, over 3,500 workers converged at Obra Spot, a popular area at Kwame Nkrumah Circle at about 9am and matched through the principal streets of Accra and ended at the Black Star Square, formerly known as independence square where they were later addressed.

Some of the workers held placards which read "Reduce tariffs now”,"the worse form of violence is poverty", "President Mahama we need a living wage", "Oh Mahama why?" and killer Act 899, 2015.

Addressing the workers, the secretary General of the Trades Union Congress Dr Kofi Asamoah said he is convinced government will change it defiance posture after seeing the numbers.

"Today's demonstration is intended to bring home to government in, a more forceful manner, the difficulties and the desperate social and economic conditions the utility tariff increases and the new levies and taxes on petroleum products and on incomes have occasioned.”

“We firmly believe that a governance system in which taxation of the ordinary man and woman becomes an obsession is socially undemocratic and unacceptable,” he argued.

In a bid to persuade President Mahama over their demands, Dr. Kofi Asamoah stated that “It is our fervent hope that today’s demonstration across the country will touch your heart.”

“Organized Labour is asking government to reduce the rate of utility increases from their current levels to 50 percent for both water and electricity as well as withdrawal of the energy sector levies Act (Act 899, 2015), which has occasioned the steep increases in petroleum prices at a time when crude prices are tumbling on the international market and exchange rate of the Ghana cedi is relatively stable.”

Story by: Michael Creg Afful

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