Review price hikes or... : Organised Labour gives govenment ultimatum
Members of Organised Labour have issued a one-week ultimatum to the government to reduce utility tariffs.
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They have also asked the government to withdraw, with immediate effect, the Energy Sector Levies Act, 2015 (Act 899) which has resulted in astronomical and what they describe as unjustified increases in the prices of petroleum products.
“Organised Labour gives government up to the close of day (18hrs GMT) on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 to meet these demands. If these demands are not met by the said date, Organised Labour will unleash a series of nationwide actions,” it warned.
These were contained in a statement signed by representatives of the various workers and professional groups constituting Organised Labour and issued in Accra after a meeting yesterday to deliberate on the recent spate of increases in utility tariffs, taxes and levies on incomes and petroleum products.
It said the meeting further decried the lazy recourse to taxation and its attendant economic and social hardships on already overburdened Ghanaians by the government.
It noted that Organised Labour was of the view that the aforementioned increases in tariffs, taxes and levies were reckless and “a display of insensitivity on the part of the managers of the economy to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian and accordingly condemns it in the strongest terms”.
Road-map actions
In line with the threats, the statement outlined a road map for an intended nationwide action to compel the government to reduce utility tariffs and fuel prices.
According to the road map, Organised Labour was expected to give notice to the police and other state bodies on its intended nationwide actions.
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It said on January 14, 2016, it would hold a press conference at the Civil Servants Association of Ghana Hall, after which, on Tuesday, January 19, and Wednesday, January 20, 2016, it would hold demonstrations and picketing in Accra and all the regional capitals.
The statement said on Thursday, January 21, and Friday, January 22, 2016, nationwide strikes would unfold.
The road map further detailed that Organised Labour would meet each evening after each activity to review its activities and plan for the next day.
It said red bands would be worn and displayed at workplaces from Thursday, January 14, 2016, while television and radio discussions would be encouraged.
Signatories
The statement was signed by Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary General of the TUC; Mr Solomon Kotei of the Industrial & Commercial Workers Union; Mr Albert Yamaoh of the Ghana Federation of Labour; Ms Vida Sapabil of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers and Mr Kojo W. Krakani of CLOGSAG.
The rest were Mr Derrick Annan of the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG); Dr Justice Yankson of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA); Mr M.V.V.K. Demanya of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT); Mr Kwaku Asante-Krobea of the Ghana Registered Nurses & Midwives Association and Mr Christian O. Odue of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (nagrat)