Organised labour on Friday (9 February) suspended its planned demonstration over the 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity.
Speaking to journalists at a press briefing on Friday (9 February), Morgan Ayawine, the general secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU-Ghana) said “The message we are sending to our members out is that, it is a victory. It is a victory not only for our members but it is a victory for Ghanaians.”
“We want to believe that it is a suspension in perpetuity. So, our members should not feel that we have been defeated,” Ayawine added.
“It is not a defeat and we have also told our members and organised labour will be on red alert so if the government thinks that it can play a trick and they want to play a smart one on us, we are still there and alive we can bounce back.”
“The fact that we have not taken a position not to discuss or engage the government on the [15%] VAT on electricity means that it is gone,” he added.
Organised labour had scheduled next Tuesday (13 February) to embark on a nationwide demonstration, should the government fail or refuse to withdraw the directive it issued for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and power distributors to implement the 15% VAT charge on electricity.
However, the Ministry of Finance subsequently directed the Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to suspend implementation of the directive.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday (7 February) said the suspension is to pave the way for engagement on the policy with the labour unions.
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