Mr. President , lead us out of poverty - Trades Union Congress (TUC)

 

Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is crying out to the President to provide leadership and take the people out of the precarious poverty situation.

"We need you to lead us from poverty to prosperity" was the closing statement of Kofi Asamoah who was speaking at the May Day celebrations at the Independence Square on Thursday.

Ghana's poor represent 26% of the population according to a 2012 Ghana Statistical Service report.

The findings of a report authored by the Tax Justice Network Africa and Christian Aid, an NGO has also noted, the rich in Ghana are getting richer and the poor, poorer.

The report blames unfair taxing regime in the country as one of the reasons for the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor.

Mr. Asamoah weighed in on economic and social conditions in the country and said despite celebrating May Day, workers are suffering.

"The economy is not working for majority of Ghanaians" - an assessment he said he gathered from the rank and file of the TUC.

“What we need is good leadership", Kofi Asamoah pointed out and expressed confidence that despite the harsh economic conditions, the President will deliver.

"We know you are capable", he said.

President John Mahama acknowledged the difficulties Ghanaians face but assured, things are going to improve by the end of the year.

He said even though some of government's measures introduced to revive the economy are harsh, “I assure you my countrymen and women, that these measures are achieving the desired effect and the economy is gradually responding.”

He said clear measures had been instituted to deal with corruption which is said to be worsening.

“We are committed to plugging loopholes in our revenue systems and will carry out the reforms in our revenue administration to ensure sustainable economic growth…In the next few will initiate a massive payroll audit with the view to eliminating the pervasive ghost names and ensuring that these ghosts die a permanent death and resurrect no more,” he stated.

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