WORKERS HIT THE STREETS TO PROTEST FUEL HIKES AND ENERGY LEVY

Workers from the formal and informal across the country today hit  the street   to protest recent hikes in fuel and utility price . Workers were seen in red attaire with placards with inscriptions "We are suffering ! Gov't come to our aid", "Reduce fuel prices Now", Mahama Why all these increases ?", "Withdraw energy levy tax" among others. Regional Executives of TUC at the end of the demonstration handed over their petition to the appropriate authorities.  Trades Union Congress (TUC), Industrial and Commercial-Workers Union (ICU) and other labour groups want the increases reversed, a demand government is unwilling to grant. The recently introduced Petroleum Sector Levy led to a much-criticized 28% increase in petroleum prices despite a substantial reduction in the price of crude oil on the world market. Water and electricity tariffs have also seen more than 50% increases.
The TUC also says the price increases in the fuel and utility price hikes “are reckless and a display of the insensitivity on the part of managers of the economy to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.” TUC General Secretary, Kofi Asamoah, thinks the timing of the petroleum price increases have worsened the plight of the Ghanaian. 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.