The Ashanti regional council of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has issued an-eight-point resolution calling on government to “rethink, redirect and restructure policies” for the national economy to benefit the Ghanaian worker.

Concerns raised at the Union’s annual meeting in Kumasi included the falling rate of the Ghana cedi and workers purchasing power, corruption, salary disparities and conditions of service and general cost of living affecting workers.

Other issues are the over-burden tax system, poor management of the pension fund and abandonment of state-owned enterprises.

According to Regional ICU Secretary, Simon Baba Allotey, the contract license of Neoplan Ghana Limited has been withdrawn since 2009.

This, he says is leading to the imminent collapse of the company as it is unable to build coaches to feed the Metro Mass Transport system.

“The mismanagement and abandonment of state-owned enterprises such as Neoplan Ghana Limited can no longer be tolerated by the ICU in the region and therefore call on the government to take urgent steps to restore Neoplan Ghana to its original state,” ICU noted.

The Council called on government to stop the importation of Chinese buses into the country but rather renew the contract with Neoplan Ghana Limited to create and sustain employment opportunities.

The Council also noted with great dismay the growing rate of unemployment in the country and its effect on labour and wants the Ministry of Employment to provide concrete policy in addressing the canker.

The ICU further charged government to take the necessary steps to address their concerns by May 1, 2014, else members of the union “would be left with no other option than to embark on series of demonstrations and street protests to register its displeasure in the way the country is being managed”.