Gov’t should be happy with Labour’s demands – Akomea

Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea says government should be glad that Organised Labour’s demands are within reach.

According to the former lawmaker, for Labour to demand only a 50 percent reduction in utility tariffs is news that should be welcomed by government.

“I would have said government should reduce [the tariffs] to 20 percent in line with inflation,” he stressed.

Nana Akomea tabled this suggestion on TV3’s News 360 on Tuesday, January 19.

After two separate meetings with government, Organised Labour decided to hit the streets on Wednesday to demand a reduction in utility tariffs.

Members are also demanding a total withdrawal of the Energy Sector Levy Act recently passed in Parliament.

Government has, however, given indication that it will not tamper with the Act while it considers reducing the tariffs, though not by the 50 percent demanded by Labour.

Labour has lined up a number of industrial actions in a roadmap to pile pressure on government to meet its demands.

According to Nana Akomea, the demands by Labour on government are even more considerate.

“The government should be happy and quickly go and reduce [the tariffs],” he said.

He lent support to Wednesday’s nationwide demonstration, adding that “if they don’t listen, [Organised Labour] should take every step to compel the government to reduce the tariff levels”.