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31.07.2014 Opinion

Economic Hardship Demo

By Daily Guide
Economic Hardship Demo
31.07.2014 LISTEN

DEMONSTRATIONS AND strikes do have daring consequences for a sitting government and the country as a whole. Demonstrations are good opportunities to conscientise government to open doors to give an account of its stewardship. They are not necessarily meant to intimidate but to whip governments into order.

Since the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) opened the flood-gates of strikes some three months ago, there has been a barrage of demonstrations and strikes from other quarters throughout the country. For some months now Polytechnic students have been outside their classrooms since the beginning of the second semester.

Recently, there have been litanies of demonstrations to express displeasure towards leadership, as economic hardships continue to bite all of us. Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) made a move and closed their shops for three days running in Accra and Kumasi. Soon after that, GUTA members went round to order the closure of   shops of foreigners. The phenomenon went on and on. Railway workers got infested with the demo venom, followed by ICU members. The railway workers embarked on a sit-down strike for a day. After meeting with the powers that be at the Flagstaff House, the strike was called off on the same day by 6pm and work resumed. Specific resolutions have been taken and would be applied to the letter. Accra-Tema commuters were badly hit by the railway strike action. Whatever amount was charged previously was doubled right after the strike action.

Kofi Asamoah, Trades Union Congress (TUC) boss led a strong one-stop demonstration throughout the country last week Thursday. It took place in all regional capitals on the same day and was massive. The economy of Ghana does not seem to be moving on a healthy scale and it was drummed down the faculties of those at the helm of affairs.

MUSIGA, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Korle-Bu Staff, and as many as 21 other organised labour branches took part in the demonstrations. Fuel increment, poor implementation of the Single Spine Pay Structure, the depreciation of the cedi, and worsening working conditions were but a few of the causes of the agitations.

Due to arbitrary fuel hikes service delivery has become difficult and 'trotro' fares have become unbearable. Capitation grants for schools have not been paid, resulting in the heavy indebtedness of cooks and matron to suppliers. Many are even contemplating abandoning the project.  Likewise, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is in coma, with pharmacists threatening to stop providing medications to patients.

It was therefore not surprising that the Police failed to convince TUC to back-down on its planned demonstrations in all the regions. All 24 labour groups in the ten regions took part in the demonstrations on the same day. The Police Service gave good account of itself since nothing untoward happened in any of the regions.

Polytechnic students are also threatening to embark on a three-day demonstration this week, effective Wednesday, July 30 to Friday, August 1. The plan is to present a petition to President John Dramani Mahama. What can we say? He who feels it, knows it. Students who have already paid school fees, yet sit at home, feel and know it most.

Demonstrations are good opportunities to conscientise governments to open up and give accounts for their stewardship. They are not necessarily intimidating. Moreover demos are the democratic rights of the citizenry.

By Rose Asamoah

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