Demo Hits Koforidua

The demonstration attracted various workers' unions led by the Acting Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Johnson Edmund Kyeremeh, who later presented a petition to the Deputy Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong.

The demonstrators, clad in red dresses and red bands, went through the Fire Service area to the Jackson's Park where they converged to meet the Deputy Minister.

They carried placards some of which read, “What have we done to you?” “Mr. President we need effective management of the nation,” “Mr. President the late President is not better than us” and “Times are hard.”

In the petition, the irate workers demanded immediate action by government to stop the cedi from further depreciating and also halt the rising cost of living.

They also charged government to ensure the effective production and distribution of electricity and water in the country.

The workers additionally demanded an immediate downward revision of prices of petroleum products.

Government was also asked to do something about the widespread perception of corruption in high offices and address challenges facing the national pensions' scheme.

In an interview, Mr. Edmund Kyeremeh noted that inefficient management of the economy had resulted in untold hardships in the country with workers being the hardest hit.

He said they would wait patiently for the reaction of government to see the next line of action.

Edmund Kyeremeh noted that most Ghanaians looked morose 'because of hunger and untold hardship”.

Deputy Regional Minister, Mavis Frimpong, assured the demonstrators after receiving their petition, that government would consider their grievances and seek solutions to them.

She was happy about the peaceful nature of the demonstration and commended the group for cooperating with the police. She urged them to work hard to increase productivity in order to boost the economy and also earn more for their services.

Moments after the gathering had dispersed, more people from other districts were bused to the Jackson's Park, but the event was over.

From Rocklyn Antonio, Koforidua