Members of ICU demonstrate against tariff increases

Accra, July 29, GNA - Members of Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU) of Ghana on Thursday embarked on a demonstration against the increase in utility tariffs by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC).

They carried placards some of which read: "Don't kill us before our time", "Better Ghana turns Bitter Ghana", "New utility rates scares investors", "You can Better Ghana by killing jobs", "1,000 workers have lost their job", "PURC is dishonest".

The demonstrators had a hectic time with the security the independence square when they were prevented from entering the Castle, but only their leadership.

Mr. Gilbert A. Awinongya, Acting General Secretary of ICU, in a signed petition to the Government, said ICU-Ghana was not against the increase in the tariffs per se but that the citizenry must not suffer unjustifiably.

He said with the increase some manufacturing companies had threatened to close down while others had also threatened to shut various lines of operations leading to the loss of over 200,000 jobs in the country.