Kumasi workers to join demonstration against high utility tariffs

Workers in Kumasi are being mobilized to join in a nationwide action to demonstrate against the recent hikes in utility tariffs.

Organized labour has called on the government and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to revise the tariff increases within ten days. The ultimatum expires on Tuesday October 22, 2013.

Chairman of the Kumasi District Council of Labour, Kofi Asare Asianowa, says workers in Kumasi are in solidarity with the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC).

“We are therefore organizing a massive but peaceful demonstration on Thursday in Kumasi metropolis in protest against the unbearable increases,” he said in a statement.

The planned demonstration will culminate with the presentation of a resolution to the President through the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive.

Mr. Asianowa tells Luv News the outburst by National Security Advisor, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah (retired) for labour to make sacrifices is untenable.

“What we are calling for is the legitimate rights of the people. He is talking about sacrifice; a lot of us are really giving the sacrifice already but let’s ask ourselves, is the executive doing the sacrifice as well?” he quizzed.

The Labour Chair says the one-time off increment in prices of utilities is too much a burden for the ordinary Ghanaian.

“We are saying 78.9percent increase [for electricity] but in actual fact what you used to buy is either double or beyond double the price… we are not saying that increment is wrong but we cannot take that quantum; it’s too much for the ordinary Ghanaian”, said Mr. Asianowa.

Source: Luv Ghana News

Kumasi workers to join demonstration against high utility tariffs