TUC threatens nationwide demo Feb 13 …Govt calls for dialogue

Organised Labour of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) says it will embark on a demonstration across the country on February 13, to demand the total with­drawal of the Valued Added Tax imposed on residential consum­ers of electricity by the govern­ment.

But, the Ministry of Finance has issued an appeal to organ­ised labour and key stakeholders to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue con­cerning the contentious Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity for residential customers

The Union gave a one-week ultimatum to the government to terminate the tax imposition on electricity which elapsed on Wednesday. However, the government has not issued any official communication of with­drawal of the VAT on electricity.

Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, the Secretary General of TUC, speaking at a press conference in Accra, said the union would embark on a massive demonstra­tion across the 16 regions of the country on Tuesday, February 13.

He said the union had tak­en the decision firmly and had appointed a committee to plan it, adding that the only reason to prevent the demonstration would be government’s decision to terminate the intended tax on consumption of electricity.

He said “we are not in any position to have any discussion or anything” adding “if govern­ment doesn’t want us to demon­strate they should withdraw.”

Dr Baah said the government should write to the union offi­cially to stop the union from the protest.

He said if the government did not withdraw, all formal and informal workers, public and pri­vate would on Tuesday, February 13 embark on a demonstration.

“We are going to demonstrate for government to know that we can never be taken for granted,” he added.

He entreated all employers to allow their employees to partake in the demonstration because it was a national assignment.

“This is not for only workers but for our children, families and the entire population of the country,” he added.

He said “if we do not fight this now, it would be a menace for the future.”

The TUC general secretary last Monday said all formal and informal workers must put on a red attire to work to show how ready the union was.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance acknowledged the concerns raised by organised labour and emphasised its com­mitment to resolving the issue through extensive dialogue with key stakeholders in the coming weeks.

“We believe that through open dialogue we can address the con­cerns raised by organised labour and other stakeholders. Our goal is to achieve a resolution that is fair and takes into consider­ation the interests of all parties involved,” stated a representative from the ministry,” the ministry stated.

 BY NORMAN COOPER