PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ghana: Trade unions declare strike to protest high cost of living
Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's labour unions on Friday announced a one-day strike for 24 July to register their protest at the "unbearable" economic conditions in the country, especially after fuel prices went up by about 23 per cent this week.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kofi Asamoah, asked the government to reduce the prices of petroleum fuel with immediate effect.
He asked workers and employers to join the strike to protest against the high cost of living.
Government has cited huge wage bills, reduction in donor assistance, drop in the prices of its main exports, cocoa and gold, high cost of subsidies of fuel and huge pressure the local currency, the cedi, as some of the reasons why it is unable to satisfy its statutory payments.
“All workers, including those of you in the media, formal and informal are to stay away from work and converge at designated locations in Accra and other regional capitals to demonstrate,” Asamoah said.
Demonstrations against the rising cost of living have been common expressions in Ghana in recent months but it is the first time the labour unions are going on strike.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 18July2014
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kofi Asamoah, asked the government to reduce the prices of petroleum fuel with immediate effect.
He asked workers and employers to join the strike to protest against the high cost of living.
Government has cited huge wage bills, reduction in donor assistance, drop in the prices of its main exports, cocoa and gold, high cost of subsidies of fuel and huge pressure the local currency, the cedi, as some of the reasons why it is unable to satisfy its statutory payments.
“All workers, including those of you in the media, formal and informal are to stay away from work and converge at designated locations in Accra and other regional capitals to demonstrate,” Asamoah said.
Demonstrations against the rising cost of living have been common expressions in Ghana in recent months but it is the first time the labour unions are going on strike.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 18July2014
