Kumasi convulsed by huge workers demonstration

Kumasi, July 24, GNA - Kumasi, the nation's second biggest city, was on Thursday convulsed by a huge demonstration staged by organized labour against the worsening economic conditions.

The workers, dressed in red and black, hit out at the high utility bills and taxes, increases in fuel prices and the rising cost of living.

They held placards, carrying messages like 'we are fed up with the hardships', 'Reduce inflation now' 'Increase our salaries', 'Don't take us for granted', 'Don't burden us with your own inefficiencies', 'We cannot cope with draconian policies' and 'How do we pay for our children's school fees'.

There was near confusion between the demonstrators and the police over the routes they should take. The police insisted they could not use the road in front of the Central Market, but they stood their ground and in the end good sense prevailed.

They set off from the Centre for National Culture (CNC) at exactly 0900 hours and went through some principal streets, backed with brass band music, drawing applause from traders, as some of them joined to show solidarity.

The protest march ended after four hours with the presentation of a petition to the President, which was received by the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Yamin.               

Mrs Naomi Dede Otoo, National Second Vice-Chairperson of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines, said it was deeply worrying that amid the unbearable hardships, the Mahama Administration had refused to ensure an upward adjustment of the salaries of workers.

She vowed that organized labour would not relent but continue to fight for better deal for the Ghana worker.

The government needs to get its acts right to fix the faltering economy, to end the suffering and improve the welfare the people.

They would want to see the government cut down on profligate spending and introduce pro-poor social interventions.

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