In December 2015, the PURC and Government announced steep increases in utility tariffs of 59.2% for electricity and 67.2% for water. That was an unpleasant and unwelcome Christmas gift to Ghanaians.Then right after Christmas, Ghanaians were met with a new year package of astronomical increases in fuel prices ostensibly emanating from an Energy Sector Levies Act that was rushed through Parliament under a certificate of urgency.

Organised Labour, along with civil society groups, and indeed the generality of Ghanaians have complained and appealed to government to reduce utility tariffs and withdraw the Energy Sector Levies Act.

Organised Labour had since had series of meetings with government in an attempt to reach an amicable agreement. The last meeting ended inconclusively on 14th January, 2016.

With our mandate to defend working people, the weak and vulnerable in society, we took our concerns to the street as a first step that government will listen.

Hundreds of workers ( formal and informal) participated in the Nationwide demonstration to express our outrage with the barrage of insensitive increases on taxes, levies, and utility prices at this most inopportune time of the year when the average Ghanaian is battling with an extremely high cost of living.