A Group On Demo Or Protest March May Not Necessarily Be Fighting A Just Cause

It might seem to a foreigner that Ghana currently is in the season of demonstration this year. One is likely to come to this conclusion due to the number of strikes and demonstrations that have bedeviled the nation in the last few months. It began with an industrial action by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRT), Ghana Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Government Hospital Pharmacists (GHOSPA) back in April this year. This continued with a series of strike actions, with those of University Teachers Association (UTAG), Federation of Universities Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), the Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG), threats by the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) and with the most recent sit down strike being that of the Junior doctors in Tamale , the Junior Nurses at the Teaching Hospitals and Taxi drivers in Accra, against a restriction order by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The latest was the �Eye Fe Notse� demonstration by the Progressive People�s Party (PPP) and other civil society groups against corruption. But Fred Agbenyo, a member of the Government�s Communication Team is of the view that a striking group may not necessarily be fighting for a just cause. According to him, the sheer number people involved in an industrial action does not make their reasons right. ��what I�m saying is, we are in a democratic era and it always easy to organize demonstrations and street protest in the bid to register one�s grievance. You could have a situation where the majority may disagree, may demonstrate but it may come out that even though you are in the majority, the decision or position was necessarily the right one,� he argued. These comments by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team member comes on the heels of a ten day ultimatum issued by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Government of Ghana (GoG) to reduce the increase in utility tariffs. The group warned that it would be forced to resort to industrial action if the ultimatum is brushed aside. This agitation has come about due to the 78.9% and 52% adjustment in electricity and water tariffs respectively. Nonetheless, Fred Agbenyo is of the conviction that in spite of the fact that there is discontent among the Ghanaian populace because of certain decisions the leadership of the country have taken, the number of people aggrieved does not make their reasons acceptable.