The Public Utilities Workers' Union (PUWU) has postponed a planned nationwide demonstration against private sector participation in the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The demonstration, which was scheduled to take place on September 29, 2022, was called off after a meeting between PUWU and the Ministry of Energy on September 28, 2022. According to sources, the meeting is expected to continue on September 29, and the outcome will determine whether the union will resume plans for the demonstration or call it off entirely.
The PUWU had earlier directed all members to embark on a nationwide demonstration against private sector participation in the ECG. In a memo to divisional heads of the Senior Staff Union (SSU) and Junior Staff Union (JSU), the union stated that the demonstration was aimed at presenting a petition to the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. The petition was to be delivered to the regional ministers in all operational regions.
When Adom Trotro got to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) headquarters, where participants in the Greater Accra Region were expected to assemble for the protest, the meeting point was empty. This was because the planned protest had been postponed. The decision to postpone the demonstration was taken after the meeting between PUWU and the Ministry of Energy.
The Public Utilities Workers' Union had planned to embark on a peaceful public demonstration across all operational regions to present a petition to the President. The union had directed all members to participate in the demonstration, which was aimed at expressing their opposition to private sector participation in the ECG.
The meeting between PUWU and the Ministry of Energy is expected to continue on September 29, 2022. The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the union will resume plans for the demonstration or call it off entirely. The union's decision to postpone the demonstration suggests that they are open to negotiations with the Ministry of Energy.
The planned demonstration was aimed at expressing the union's opposition to private sector participation in the ECG. The union had argued that private sector participation would have a negative impact on the company's operations and employees. The postponement of the demonstration suggests that the union is willing to engage in dialogue with the government to find a solution.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) headquarters was the expected meeting point for participants in the Greater Accra Region. However, when Adom Trotro got to the headquarters, the meeting point was empty. This was because the planned protest had been postponed. The union's decision to postpone the demonstration has given them an opportunity to engage in further negotiations with the Ministry of Energy.
Key points
- The Public Utilities Workers' Union has postponed a planned nationwide demonstration against private sector participation in the Electricity Company of Ghana.
- The postponement was due to a meeting between PUWU and the Ministry of Energy.
- The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the union will resume plans for the demonstration or call it off entirely.
