The Managing editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has indicated that he fully supports the strike action announced by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), against the utility tariff increment and suggested that he will close down his newspaper on that day to support the cause.
Kwesi Pratt was speaking as a panelist on Mtero TV?s ?Goodmorning Ghana? in relation to the announced strike action scheduled for the 18th November,2013 announced by Organised Labour.
Addressing the issue, Kwesi Pratt indicated his displeasure with the way government was treating the concerns and demands of organised labour.
?It would be important for government to make concessions because this would not be like any other strike. This strike is supported fully by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which now I am told has about 17 affiliated unions.
The Industrial and Workers Union, which broke away from the TUC is supporting the strike, the Ghana National Association of Teachers is supporting the strike, NAGRAT is supporting the strike, and many more. It is even possible that many people in the informal sector would join the strike action. In fact I am ready to close down the Insight in support of this strike action for November 18th. So it is important that government should listen.
The situation on the ground is not good at all and it?s important that government wakes up to its responsibility, it?s important that government listens to the cries of the people. People are really suffering in our country and government needs to do something about it,? he warned.
Kwesi Pratt further described the recent utility price hikes as atrocious taking into account the unending corruption and inefficiency of the utility companies which the customers suffer for.
?What even makes it worse is that, these occur without regards to the call for improving efficiency and ending corruption in the utility services. It?s even worse still, when you realize that the increases are far more than 78%, especially with electricity,? he added.
