The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to publish all the oil and gas contracts signed so that Ghanaians can see for themselves what has been negotiated on their behalf.
The TUC has also said the government should disclose fully all the policy options and proposals it is considering for people to make informed contributions.
A statement signed by the Secretary General of the TUC Kofi Asamoah on the TUC’s steering committee’s position on the national economic situation, also asked that the Right to Information Bill that has been introduced in parliament should be widely publicized and circulated to afford Ghanaians, an opportunity to discuss and debate the contents, and make proposals before it is passed into law.
“We respectfully appeal to Parliament not to rush and pass the bill into law, before citizens have adequate opportunity to deliberate on its contents,” he said.
He said even though Ghanaians continue to hear regular assurances from government and its officials that the oil revenue would not be squandered but managed to the benefit of all the people, “the TUC is of the view that, not enough transparency and consultation have characterised the process so far.”
He said the proposed utility tariff increases, would lead to a further rise in cost of living and put a strain on the Ghanaian.
Mr. Asamoah said even though statistical data suggest a fall in the rate of inflation, it does not mean that, the cost of living has not been rising.
“While the government may have inherited some challenges, the steering committee is of the view that the test of successful leadership is the ability to address effectively, such challenges,” he said.
Mr. Asamoah said, the TUC had also noted with concern, the astronomical increases in road tolls in a single stroke of over 900 per cent.
He said the argument that, the road tolls have remained unchanged for a long time and that the adjustments are necessary to make up for lost revenue is untenable.
“Whose fault is it that the tolls remained unchanged for that number of years?” he asked adding that, it is an institutional and systemic failure on the part of government and its agencies.
Mr. Asamoah said the astronomical increases have already fed into increases in transport fares and other consumer items.
“Vehicle owners and their drivers have passed on the increases to the public exacerbating the plight of commuters,” he said.
He said the government did not also consult affiliate unions of the TUC in the road transport sector before effecting the increases.
“The TUC is disappointed by the failure of the government to consult and engage stakeholders on such critical issue which has huge implications on cost of living,” he stressed and urged the government to review the tolls through consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
The TUC has also said the government should disclose fully all the policy options and proposals it is considering for people to make informed contributions.
A statement signed by the Secretary General of the TUC Kofi Asamoah on the TUC’s steering committee’s position on the national economic situation, also asked that the Right to Information Bill that has been introduced in parliament should be widely publicized and circulated to afford Ghanaians, an opportunity to discuss and debate the contents, and make proposals before it is passed into law.
“We respectfully appeal to Parliament not to rush and pass the bill into law, before citizens have adequate opportunity to deliberate on its contents,” he said.
He said even though Ghanaians continue to hear regular assurances from government and its officials that the oil revenue would not be squandered but managed to the benefit of all the people, “the TUC is of the view that, not enough transparency and consultation have characterised the process so far.”
He said the proposed utility tariff increases, would lead to a further rise in cost of living and put a strain on the Ghanaian.
Mr. Asamoah said even though statistical data suggest a fall in the rate of inflation, it does not mean that, the cost of living has not been rising.
“While the government may have inherited some challenges, the steering committee is of the view that the test of successful leadership is the ability to address effectively, such challenges,” he said.
Mr. Asamoah said, the TUC had also noted with concern, the astronomical increases in road tolls in a single stroke of over 900 per cent.
He said the argument that, the road tolls have remained unchanged for a long time and that the adjustments are necessary to make up for lost revenue is untenable.
“Whose fault is it that the tolls remained unchanged for that number of years?” he asked adding that, it is an institutional and systemic failure on the part of government and its agencies.
Mr. Asamoah said the astronomical increases have already fed into increases in transport fares and other consumer items.
“Vehicle owners and their drivers have passed on the increases to the public exacerbating the plight of commuters,” he said.
He said the government did not also consult affiliate unions of the TUC in the road transport sector before effecting the increases.
“The TUC is disappointed by the failure of the government to consult and engage stakeholders on such critical issue which has huge implications on cost of living,” he stressed and urged the government to review the tolls through consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
