A planned demonstration by Organised Labour in protest of recent increases in fuel and utility prices is ongoing nationwide.
On the eve of New Year government through parliament introduced Petroleum Sector Levy which has led to a 30% increase in petroleum prices despite a substantial reduction in the price of crude oil on the world market.
Aside that there was an increase of withholding taxes from 5% to 15%. These increases came on the heels of significant increase in the prices of electricity and water of 59 and 67 % respectively.
Labour Minister and Organised labour
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), Industrial and Commercial-Workers Union (ICU) and other labour groups want the increases reversed or 50% increases in salaries, a demand government is unwilling to grant.
The minister for labour and employment who is trying to persuade organised labour from striking says government is willing to review other taxes but not the petroleum sector levy. The minister had said that it would be unfair to demonstrate while negotiations were still underway.
“Embarking on such actions means holding a gun to my head while we are still talking,” he said.
The minister explains that, the petroleum sector levy is to ensure adequate and constant supply of crude for Electricity Company of Ghana and the Volta River Authority.
A comment which is deemed as government’s way to scare Ghanaians to either accept the price hikes or go back to load shedding or Dumsor.
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 has worsened the plight of the Ghanaian.
As of yesterday various labour unions such as: Graduate Teachers Association, Ghana National Association of Teachers, Judicial Services Workers Union amongst others had indicated their readiness to join the nationwide demonstration.
Leadership by Example
The largest opposition party in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party had welcomed the demonstration even though it thinks organised labour has been charitable with their demands.
Meanwhile organised labour has warned political parties not to turn the demonstration into party politics by showing up with party colours and souvenirs. All Ghanaians have been asked to join.
Gyasi Appiah
