'We have called on government to restore the subsidies and to reduce the fuel prices since our last press conference on January 10, 2012. Government has failed to heed our call, and the hardships occasioned by these astronomical increases continue.

'The failure on the part of government to act is a clear indication that dialogue and consultations have failed to yield any fruitful results for workers and their families.'

The steering committee of the TUC, at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, decided that on Tuesday, February 7, this year, it will hold a second round of labour meetings in all the ten regions of Ghana to adopt further actions to be taken to push government back into its shell.

According to the TUC, subsidies in fuel pricing constitute an important mechanism with which the state directly mitigates the effects of petroleum price increment on Ghanaians, most of whom earn very low income or have none at all. 

Since the fuel price increases were announced, the leadership of the TUC has taken time to meet and dialogue with government on the issue.

'We have met with government's Economic Management Team (EMT). We have also held meetings with the Vice President. We have heard all the explanations and the justifications as well as the measures that government intends to take to cushion workers against the adverse effects of the fuel price increases but we have made it clear to government that all such measures will not be effective.'

On 28 th December, 2011, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced an increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG ranging from 15 to 30 percent.

'Workers and Ghanaians in general fully understand and support this position because they feel the negative effects of such price hikes in their daily lives,' Mr Asamoah noted.

 By Samuel Boadi
 
 
 

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