Five Councils of labour in Ashanti against water privatisation

Five District Councils of Labour in the Ashanti region have appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to privatise the provision of water in the country.

They are Councils of Asante-Akim North, Adansi West, Amansie East, Sekyere West and Offinso.

The appeal was contained in separate resolutions adopted at end of meetings the councils had with the Integrated Social Development Centre and Trades Union Congress, regional secretaries from Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo, at Kumasi.

The councils rejected the view that privatising water would result in efficient water delivery in the country.

They, therefore called on the government to give the needed financial and logistical support to the Ghana Water Company Limited to enable it provide good drinking water at affordable cost.

The councils stated that: "Water is not and should not be a common commodity to be bought and sold in the market place as an economic good."

They said access to potable water was a basic right and a necessity to every individual regardless of his or her social, economic or political status and should, therefore, be made available to all by the government.

The councils further advised the government not to privatise the Ghana Commercial Bank, since such a decision would have serious consequences on workers, especially those in the rural areas.