Organised Labour Demo in Eastern & Volta Regions

Hundreds of workers from the various unions under the organised labour today joined the nationwide demonstration to show their displeasure at working conditions in the country. 

As early as 6:30am, workers have started gathering at the forecourt of the TUC building in Koforidua to take part in the demonstration. 

Under a heavy police presence led by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Akuriba Yaagy, guided the demonstrators through the principal streets and rounded it up at the Jackson Park. 

The workers carried placards with some inscriptions like; “Why Mahama? We are suffering poor governance, Mr. President! Ghana is bleeding profusely, John! Where is the oil, cocoa and gold money, Why is Minister taking 22 thousand Ghana Cedis and minimum wage is six Ghana Cedis”. 

At the Jackson Park, leadership of the Organised Labour in a statement read by Acting Eastern Regional Secretary of TUC, Johnson Edmund Kyeremeh, said, workers are demanding immediate action and effective measures to address the widespread perception of corruption in high offices which has reached unprecedented level, prosecuting all persons against whom there is evidence of such gross anti-social acts irrespective of the social or political status. 

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, who received the petition on behalf of government said, government is aware of the current economic challenges facing the country and is working tirelessly to address the situation. 

She pleaded with the demonstrators to bear with government and help resolve the challenges. 

Madam Frimpong added that she will forward their grievances to the president and commended them for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves during the demonstration exercise, which is their democratic right.

From Ho Radio Ghana’s Correspondent Kobla Ali Kukubor and Maclean Nordzi report that though attendance was low at the Organized Labour’s demonstration in the Volta Regional capital, the exercise was peaceful and successful. 

The Regional Police Command mobilized 200 officers and men and women to ensure security. The number incidentally outnumbered the demonstrators therefore making their job easy. 

The 50 minutes demonstrators started from the Civic Centre through the principal streets of Ho to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council. 

The demonstrators carried placards some of which read “Not Again Mahama” High Utility Tariff, Poor utility Services” “NDC is Killing Ghana Softly” “Wipe Off Indiscipline and Corruption in the System” “John Mahama We Dey Die”. 

The petition presented on behalf of Organized Labour by the Regional TUC Secretary, Elvis Van Lare read in part that government cannot be separated from the current socio economic malaise being faced in the country. 

He stressed that the economic situation in the country has moved from bad to worse and it is deteriorating day by day and there seem to be no end in sight. 

Accordingly Organized Labour is demanding among other things that government should halt the depreciation of the cedi and the rising cost of living and also ensure efficiency in the production and distribution of electricity and water. 

The government should also downward review the prices of petroleum products and put effective measures in place to ensure that Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) operate at full capacity. 

Organized Labour is also asking the government to revamp the railways sector and ensure that the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) address the challenges in the implementation of the new pension’s scheme. 

Receiving the petition on behalf of the President, the Volta Regional Minister, Helen Adzoa Ntoso said government appreciates the concern of workers and is doing everything possible to alleviate their plight. 

GBC