The Recent Tuc Demonstration Lacks Credibility

.... And Was Led By Cold-Hearted Leaders

Young Democrats for Good Governance (YD-GG), Ashanti Region Chapter, view the recent nation-wide demonstration by organized labour with unconcealed disgust. The tenets of industrial relations in the public sector and indeed all sectors of the economy operate to engender peaceful, candid and responsible engagements among stakeholders. After all, growing the size of the national cake is not in the interest of only political leaders but in the interest of all and sundry including labour. We therefore, find it distasteful for the leaders of organized labour to advocate for a day sit-down of all workers at a time when managers of the economy have been so candid with Ghanaians about the challenges confronting the economy. We strongly believe that the ailing economy is partly explained by the unbridled demands made by trade unions in recent years. Labour unions have indeed taken Ghanaians to ransom and forced our Governments to make increases in public sector pay without recourse to the capacity of the economy to absorb such increases. The leadership of labour must come to terms with the reality that unchecked expansion in wages and salaries only raises aggregate demand which must be met with commensurate increases in aggregate supply; and considering that over 70% of goods and services supplied in the economy are foreign, the strength of the Ghana cedi is bound to weaken. Reversing the dependency of the economy on imports and stabilizing the Ghana cedi is painstaking and gradual and giving ultimatums to Government is not the best to go.

We strongly condemn the illegal one day sit-down strike by organized labour and above all register our displeasure on the choice of the remembrance day of our late President, Professor Mills (may his soul rest in peace) to carry out this act. In fact the leadership of labour has shown the highest level of cold-heartedness. Would they have made the time to go out and demonstrate if the late President Mills was their father, uncle or husband?

Young Democrats once again urge the Government to remain resolute and critical in doing those things that would put the economy on a sustainable path of growth and development. At least in the mist of the current hardship which has been duly acknowledged, we live in peace and security. Those who appreciate that nation building is a process will continue to offer you their support and encouragement while you diligently put measures in place to deal with the current economic challenges.

Signed

1. Nana Yaw Acheampong-Regional Chapter Secretary-0240733128-Twi

2. Samuel Azinga Awuni-Director of Operations-0244247828-English

(Young Democrats for Good Governance, Ashanti Chapter