Organised Labour has called a nationwide demonstration on Wednesday January 20, for workers to register their displeasure on high level of utility tariffs, taxes and energy sector levy act. At a media briefing in Accra, Secretary General of the TUC Kofi Asamoah said series of meeting between government and organized Labour on two occasions have ended in conclusively. He said government refusal to reduce the tariffs as demanded by organized Labour leaves the union no option than to hit the street.
Organised Labour last year December gave government a deadline to reduce utility tariffs and withdraw Energy Levy Act or face series of demonstrations. The workers are accusing the government of losing touch with the harsh economic realities of the country following the double barreled increases in utility tariffs and taxes.
It will be the second of such nationwide demonstration by workers under the three year tenure of president John Mahama. The first was in July 2014 when thousands of Ghanaian workers poured onto the streets in anger over the rising cost of living. In December 2015, the PURC announced a 67 and 59 per cent in electricity and water tariffs respectively. There was also the imposition of an energy sector levy which ballooned the prices of petroleum products to an average of 30 per cent. There was also the increase in income tax. Workers say they have had enough of the taxes and increases in utility prices and want government to reduce the taxes.
TUC Secretary General Kofi Asamoah told the media "we are left with no option than to hit the streets to express outrage."Government has lost touch with the economic realities of the people" he stated, condemning the hikes in utility prices as well as taxes. He said after the demonstration they will be gauging government response and are likely to begin a nationwide strike if government remains intransigent.
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