Industrial workers hold demonstration in Tema (live updates)
Members of the Industrial Workers Union (ICU) hit the streets in Tema this morning to protest high cost of living in the country.
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Graphic Online's Della Russel Ocloo reporting from Tema said the demonstrators held placards some of which read: "Why have we the people become a nation sheep?", "System Failure: Mahama's government reboot now", "Call on ICU Ghana, it is your right" and "Ebolaic economic policies killing workers."
According to the ICU, the demonstration was on the theme. "The state of the economy and its effects on Ghanaian workers", and said among other things it was negotiating severance packages for some 400 workers who are due to be laid off in a fortnight by two companies in Tema due to the harsh economic crisis pertaining in the country.
According to our reporter representatives from ICU offices in Kumasi, Takoradi, Ho and Koforidua joined their colleagues from Accra and Tema in the demonstration.
Before the ICU Secretary General, Mr Solomon Kotei addressed the demonstrators, they shouted, "Mahama, Yentie Obiaaa".
Addressing the demonstrators, Mr Solomon Kotei said 17 production companies in Takoradi have shut down sending thousand of workers home.
"The IMF's long hands are now ruling this country" Mr Kotei said.
He said the automatic adjustment formulas that works the world over was supposed to see decreases when prices in crude oil falls but in Ghana, it rather goes up when the world market declines.
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"Govt is failing to expand tax net but rather pushing more on people already in the tax line."
The Tema Municipal Chief Executive who received the ICU's petition on behalf of government said a similar petition submitted in 2014 was being addressed.
