Textile workers hit the streets next week over ‘deceptive’ budget

The Textile and Garment Workers Union of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) is set to demonstrate on 9th March, 2017 against the government on the 2017 budget presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta on Thursday.

The Union says the intended exercise is premised on the fact that there is nothing in the budget that will help the textile and garment industry. “We are all sick because of the budget.

After all the noise about creating jobs and helping the private industries, nothing was said about the manufacturing…they are just making fun of everybody”, the General Secretary of the Textile and Garment Workers Union, Abraham Koomson told Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Friday.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta Thursday presented to Parliament, the government’s budget statement and economic policy for the 2017 financial year.

Having analysed the budget, those in the textile industry are not happy, which Mr. Koomson explained: “On the demonstration, we shall give high detailed analysis of why goods made in Ghana are expensive than that of China. It is because of high cost of production in Ghana and it is because government is creating jobs for the Chinese.”

“Why is china producing at low cost? The government must think of why the local industries are not performing”, the General Secretary noted. He said “how many people are using spare parts? How many people are ‘kayayei? Africa, we have a long way to go. If you want to be too smart to deceive people, God is looking at us all”.

The General Secretary said they were expecting massive reduction in energy and water which they use for manufacturing to enable them perform effectively but nothing of that sort was said in the budget. “I saw nothing that will make our industry stand. If you do that, the local industries will collapse”.

Mr. Koomson cited for instance, “China has brought in fake Ghana @60 anniversary clothes because ours is expensive so they will buy the china one”.