Some journalists have described the Trades Union Congress (TUC), demonstration as a waste their time because government's posture on the tariffs will not change.
The journalists in an interview with the DAILY HERITAGE stated that government's current entrenched position and past records clearly show that no demonstration would move it to change such a major decision.
They added that that government's programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may not allow it to change some of its policy directions because they may violate some of the IMF conditions.
A reporter with the Daily Guide, Thomas Fosu Jnr. told the paper the new tariffs are “really biting” everybody, hence, government needs to listen to the TUC and adjust the tariffs downwards. Mr. Fosu stated that government needs to live by its mantra as a listening government and review the tariffs.
Another journalist with the state broadcaster, GBC Radio (name withheld) indicated that the demonstration by the TUC is their constitutional right but doubts if government would listen to them and change anything.
According to him, the ripple effects of the new taxes are really affecting everybody but the government seems not to care about the plight of the citizens.
Gov't's entrenched position
Haruna Iddrisu, Employment and Labour Relations Minister at a meeting with Organised Labour said government will not reverse the imposition of new taxes and increased utility tariffs. According to him, the increment in tariffs is to fix the erratic power supply that has bedevilled the country for about four years.
Mr. Iddrisu said any attempt to reverse the increased tariffs and taxes would negatively affect government's ability to fix the energy crisis.
He explained that there is an outstanding debt of GH¢4.5 billion, which needs to be settled, hence government's decision to introduce the new Energy Sector levy.
TUC demonstration
The TUC at yesterday's demonstration described the recent hikes in utility tariffs as socially undemocratic and unacceptable.
The group in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Asamoah, after it embarked upon a nationwide demonstration, warned they could resort to further street protestations, if government fails to heed their call.
“Today's demonstration is intended to bring home to government in a more forceful manner the difficulties and the desperate social and economic conditions the utility tariff increases and the levies and taxes on petroleum products and on incomes have occasioned,” the statement said.
According to the TUC, considering the fact that public sector salaries went up by only 10 per cent, there is absolutely no justification for government to impose such astronomical increases on the citizenry.
The statement, among other things, called on government to take immediate steps to withdraw the newly introduced Energy Sector Levies Act, which the TUC says, has occasioned further increases in petroleum products.
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