Organised Labour will go ahead with its nationwide demonstration to protest the poor economic conditions on Thursday, July 24, despite calls from government to rescind its decision.
A press statement signed by the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Kofi Asamoah noted that “ organized labour informs workers of Ghana and the general public that the announced nationwide demonstrations come off as planned, tomorrow; Thursday July 24, 2014”
While calling on all industries, employers and Ghanaians feeling the pinch of the situation to support and join the demonstration, Mr. Asamoah further instructed “workers in the Greater Accra region to converge on the Obra Spot, Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 6:30am, on Thursday July 24, 2014.”
Various groups and associations including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Association among others have already declared their support for Organized Labour’s strike on Thursday.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, the deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Mr. Justice Yankson said the Association will join the demonstration to protest government’s failure to pay them their compensation.
“Government has failed to pay us compensation and it also failed to even negotiate with us, “ he said.
Mr. Yankson believes that Organised Labour’s demonstration will compel “government to appreciate the suffering the ordinary worker is going through.”
He further dismissed claims that the protest was politically motivated, adding that Ghanaian “workers are only exercising their democratic rights “enshrined in the Constitution.
“We are using the tools as enshrined in our laws, we are not pundits, and we have not taken up arms or anything…”
“ We just want to draw government’s attention so it will fix our problems for us. We elected government to fix our problems and that is why we are calling on government to ensure that things are done appropriately, “ he explained.
Click on link to read statement issued by the GMA
Meanwhile the GMA has said it will keep some staff on duty at various hospitals across the country as they join Organised Labour in their protest.
Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of the GMA, Mr. Frank Serebour said “ we will be on the hunt to identify every single emergency case that will come”
The decision, he said, is to avoid any “inconveniences.”
“If you have any problem that you think that is an emergency you will get a doctor to attend to you,” Mr Serebour stated.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah