Opposition Parties To Demonstrate Against Govt

Opposition parties in Ghana are planning to hold a joint demonstration to protest the intolerable and worsening economic conditions in the country. Sources close to the planning committee say the demonstration has become necessary because of the worsening economic situation in the country and the possible effects of new policies on the poor.

The demonstration planned for early April will be the second united opposition demonstration against economic hardships. The first was in November 2000 against the then government of the NDC.

JOY FM says it can confirm that the leaders of the PNC, CPP, DPP and the NDC have accepted to join the mass demonstration.

Reports of the planned April demonstration comes just days after the Leader of the NDC, Professor John Atta Mills announced his intention to lead his party an other like-minded groups on a ''March for Survival''.

There has been some public resentment over the last months especially after the almost 100% increase in fuel prices. Some politicians, economists and labour have also criticized the government’s 2003 budget statement including the increase in the period of the Reconstruction Levy and a subtle increase in the VAT rate by 5%.

The NDC and TUC are also leading a campaign against the passage of a bill for the imposition of a TOR debt recovery levy. The levy, according to critics will further increase the price of fuel, but Energy Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah says it will not.