Separate donations were made at the Adidome Farm Institute, Afetorgbokofe Safe Haven, Torkor, New Bakpa Zorotodzi, and Mafe in North Tongu District in the Volta Region.

The TUC Deputy General Secretary, Joshua Ansah who led the delegation empathized with the victims who are putting up in classrooms and open spaces as their houses have been submerged by the flood.

He said that every worker at TUC has a relation in the affected areas and all over the country, hence Congress would do all it can to continue assisting the victims.

“I want to assure you that with God all things are possible, we are here today we can’t wipe away your tears but show we are empathizing with all of you,” Mr. Ansah said.

He entreated Ghanaians to form a synergy towards providing shelter for the victims who have been displaced.

The relief items presented comprised essential supplies, including bags of rice, clean water, oil, and some cartoons of tin fish.

The camp head at the Adidome Farm Institute, Francisca Gavor appreciated the donation by the TUC.

ALSO READ:

• Akosombo dam spillage: NADMO exposes South Tongu DCE over relief items

• Akosombo dam spillage: South Tongu DCE reprimanded for hoarding relief items

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he stated that in the past, government assurances at the durbar have merely been lip-service with little or nothing to show for years later.

According to Mr Ansah, this time, the TUC is determined to take the government on to ensure all assurances are met and their grievances are duly addressed.

“This time round, I think that it’s not going to be just a rhetoric, just a saying then we’ll go back to sit. We’re going to follow whatever he has said from A to Z, and we’re going to take government also on and ensure that whatever promises, whatever responses that he gave yesterday at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga are adhered to. This time around, we’re not going to just sit and look on because for years we have not achieved what is expected to be achieved during May Day,” he said.

This follows President Akufo-Addo among other things, assuring workers that their pensions will not be affected by the government’s domestic debt exchange programme.

This year’s May Day celebration was on the theme; “Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: Our responsibility.”

Meanwhile, Joshua Ansah has warned that the hard-won rights of workers are being eroded by some employers in the country.

He noted that some workers are being denied the right to organize unions and demand for better working conditions.

“May Day is a day that we commemorate our heroes who actually died, who actually fought for the cause of workers’ rights, who actually made us today enjoying the working condition that we’re enjoying.

ALSO READ:

• It is better to convert National Cathedral to national hospital -TUC

• Do not touch our pension funds – TUC tells government

“This barbaric behaviour is rearing its head again in this very country where some employers are trying to trample upon the rights of workers; they’re making organizing and formation of unions very difficult in this country. And a clear example is the Asogli Power Plant in this country.

“So Evans, the message was very clear to the government and he also gave a response but we’re going to hold government to account whatever he has said at the Jubilee Park yesterday.”

The threat comes after the expiry of an ultimatum the union gave the company to reinstate the workers who happen to be their local leaders.

According to the Union, the contracts of the workers were allegedly terminated on the basis that they joined a union called the Ghana Mine Workers Union which is under the Trades Union Congress.

Speaking to the media, the Deputy Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, Joshua Ansah said the union is committed to ensuring that the dismissed workers get justice.

“So, we are reviewing our internal mechanisms which include serving notices to the appropriate agencies including the Public Order Act and for our possible actions which include picketing and if we don’t still have an answer to our demand, it will be escalated into a possible strike action.”

“We are serving notice to the management of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, for them to actually listen and ensure that the three dismissed employees are reinstated otherwise or to avert possible actions from the whole workers of this very country against the company. Because we will not sit down and fold our arms for management to actually abuse our fundamental human rights”.

Earlier, the union was categorical in its statement that it will not be aloof about its members being maltreated.

“This fight is not going to end today; we are going to fight until our demand is met and our boys are reinstated. It’s our right and we think that workers’ rights cannot be trampled upon by employers,” Mr Ansah said.

ALSO READ:

• Why Mahama is worried over Assin North MPs case [Listen]
• How we got NDC MPs to approve new ministers – Annoh-Dompreh reveals
• Superintendent Effia Tenge gets top position

He however charged the government to intervene to prevent a possible industrial action.

“So, we are asking the government to direct the company to do what is right and to avert any possible industrial action in this very country. We mean it, and we are going to do it.

“Until our boys are reinstated until they stop abusing workers’ rights until they do what is right, they will never see peace with workers of this very country”.

But before that meeting gets underway, the Trades Union Congress is warning that it will not accept government’s projections in the 2023 Budget.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, reading the 2023 Budget in Parliament projected compensation of employees at GH¢44,990 million (5.6% of GDP).

Earlier, government also proposed a 12% salary increment during the last negotiation with Organised Labour but it was turned down.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, Deputy General Secretary of TUC, Joshua Ansah stated that they would not agree to the projected figure.

According to Mr Ansah, government must expect a fight if they turn up at the meeting with the same proposal.

“There is no way Organised Labour is also going to accept what has been put in the budget. Well, if the government has made up its mind that it is the way it thinks that he can actually force down the throat of workers, then we are in for a big fight because there is no way government can pay anything below what we are expecting,” he said.

He noted that Organised Labour will not compromise on their demand for 60% increment in their base pay.

Meanwhile, the President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Justice Yankson says government has created a problem by not reaching an agreement with the labour unions earlier.

 He believes the current mess could have been prevented.

ALSO READ:

TUC opposes employment freeze in Public Sector

We are upset; Ghanaian workers are suffering – TUC tells govt

“These are some of the problems that sometimes we create for ourselves. We had a whole period in which we could have sorted these things, we waited to the last end. Now we can see that we are on a collision course, it is clear,” he said.

The TUC believes the decision is a stab in the back because government promised not to do so.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, while presenting the 2023 budget statement on Thursday announced the decision by government as part of measures to reduce the soaring public expenditure.

In an interview with JoyNews, on Friday, Deputy TUC General Secretary, Joshua Ansah, said TUC is disappointed in government for that decision.

“I am really disappointed about the freeze of employment in the civil and public services in 2023 because this is something that the TUC has spoken about it all this while.

“When the IMF team came to this country, we had the opportunity to meet with them and one of the issues we raised with them was about the freeze of employment that always becomes their conditionality anytime they access their programme, we were assured that that was not going to happen,” he stated.

Mr Ansah noted that the TUC will discuss this issue with its Social Welfare Committee and respond appropriately.

ALSO READ:

We are upset; Ghanaian workers are suffering – TUC tells govt

2023 Budget: Govt freezes public sector employment

Meanwhile, government has introduced a number of measures to cut its expenditure for the year 2023.

Below is the full text of the implementation of the Cabinet directives on expenditure measures:

Mr Speaker, as a first step toward expenditure rationalisation, Government has approved the following directives which take effect from January 2023:

• All MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs are directed to reduce fuel allocations to Political Appointees and heads of MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs by 50%.

This directive applies to all methods of fuel allocation including coupons, electronic cards, chit systems, and fuel depots.

Accordingly, 50% of the previous year’s (2022) budget allocation for fuel shall be earmarked for official business pertaining to MDAs, MMDAs and SOES;

• A ban on the use of V8s/V6s or its equivalent except for cross-country travel. All government vehicles would be registered with GV green number plates from January 2023;

• Limited budgetary allocation for the purchase of vehicles. For the avoidance of doubt, the purchase of new vehicles shall be restricted to locally assembled vehicles;

• Only essential official foreign travel across government including SOEs shall be allowed. No official foreign travel shall be allowed for board members.

Accordingly, all government institutions should submit a travel plan for the year 2023 by mid-December of all expected travels to the Chief of Staff;

• As far as possible, meetings and workshops should be done within the official environment or government facilities;

• Government-sponsored external training and Staff Development activities at the Office of the President, Ministries and SOEs must be put on hold for the 2023 financial year;

• Reduction of expenditure on appointments including salary freezes together with suspension of certain allowances like housing, utilities and clothing, etc.;

• A freeze on new tax waivers for foreign companies and review of tax exemptions for the free zone, mining, oil and gas companies;

• A hiring freeze for civil and public servants

• No new government agencies shall be established in 2023;

• There shall be no hampers for 2022;

• There shall be no printing of diaries, notepads, calendars and other promotional merchandise by MDAs, MMDAs and SOEs for 2024;

• All non-critical projects must be suspended for the 2023 Financial year.