Government must yield to wisdom – Ghana Federation of Labour

The Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Kenneth Koomson, has said that the government must yield to wisdom from various stakeholders in managing the affairs of the country.

He said, it is only by so doing that government can effectively run the country.

“Government must listen to sound counsel and advice. Government must yield itself to our wisdom, it must not run the country as if we are born halfwits and clowns, unable to reason between the lines and determine our fate as far as global economic realities are concerned. The approach adopted is very cruel.

“If organized labour will not rise up and march on the streets to protest, young men and women, unemployed youth are ready to go on the streets to protest. It is in our own interest to actually determine a path that will rally Ghanaians around,” he stated.

Mr. Koomson made these remarks in an interview with Johnnie Hughes on the Sunrise Morning Show on 3FM on February 6.

Mr Koomson bemoaned the numerous taxes that Ghanaians have to pay under this government.

“The Ghana Federation of Labour has been saddled with litany of taxes from NHIL, Covid-19, emission taxes and now a 15% VAT on electricity consumptions and there are other hidden taxes within the insurance business which is non-life insurance,” Mr Koomson said.

The Deputy General Secretary of GFL expressed worry about the possible implications of these many taxes.

“The consequences of these taxes are that, it put strains on labor and ordinary Ghanaian to be able to go about their normal business. This is a country that unemployment is very huge, so already people have difficulty in securing decent jobs. People are already dealing with the harsh economic realities, post COVID. So, it doesn’t really make business sense,” Mr Koomson explained.

According to him, if government does not heed to their counsel, they will advise themselves.

“Its quiet unfortunate that we find ourselves at this point in time where we need to guarantee jobs. Promote employment, and also look at policies that will ensure that ordinary Ghanaians share some sense of hope in our country. This is not the time for us to entertain rhetoric and promises and experiment by politicians.

This is serious time which requires serious planning. We get disturbed when these taxes are being imposed without any mercy, without any sense of implications to Ghanaians. Our plans are very clear, it either government communicate unequivocally, a grant or withdrawal. Or we roll out strategic plans with the view to let government think right,” he noted.

It would be recalled that the Ministry of Finance directed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to charge 15% VAT on lifeline consumption of electricity effective January 1. This was met with agitations by various stakeholders including the Trades Union Congress and its affiliate bodies such as the Ghana Federation of Labour.

Organised labour have threatened that if the tax is not withdrawn, they will embark on a nationwide demonstration on February 13.

Meanwhile, Government is reported to have withdrawn the tax although there has not been an official communication in this regard.

By: Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi