The office of the Vice President of Ghana has described the decision of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to go on a demonstration if government fails to introduce the fuel subsidies as premature.
According to an aide to the Vice President, John Jinapor, so far as negotiations are ongoing, the TUC�s five-day ultimatum given to government to reverse the scrapping of the fuel subsidies could stall the entire process.
Most labour unions have been at loggerheads with the ruling National Democratic Congress since fuel prices were increased early this year. The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) for instance adjusted its prices in view of the announcements.
The adjustments led to an upward review of transport fares which the TUC and other labour organisations are protesting.
The GPRTU after a meeting with the Vice President of Ghana, John Mahama, indicated that it will be impossible to reverse the new prices even if the fuel subsidies are re-introduced.
The said meeting which was at the behest of the Vice President was boycotted by the umbrella body of labour organisations which is now threatening a nationwide demonstration after January 7 if government fails to satisfy their demand.
In an interview with Citi News, the vice president�s aide indicated that the TUC should at least appreciate government�s commitment to addressing their concerns.
�His Excellency the Vice President and the government in general and for that matter the President have shown commitment and respect in this whole deliberation,� Jinapor said.
�At our last meeting, the Vice President had to terminate his appointment in Tamale and fly just to meet them in Accra and so we believe that it is quite premature to begin on a demonstration granted the faith and the goodwill that we have shown and the level of transparency.
�We will entreat the TUC to exercise restraint while we find an amicable solution to this. What really proved as a smack was when the court ordered NPA [National Petroleum Authority] to take away the ex-refinery differential, indeed, that sort of created a problem and as a government, clearly we had to take a look at the implications of that ruling going forward and so we�d continue with the negotiation,� he mentioned.
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