The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has thrown its support behind the Trade Union Congress’ (TUC) intended November 18th nation strike in protest of the recent tariff increment.

This follows a breakdown in talks with government and the Public Utilities Regultions Commision (PURC), for the suspension of the 79 and 52 percentage increase in electricity and water tariff respectively.

AFAG in a statement issued in Accra Wednesday said declared it unflinching support behind the TUC.

Below is the full statement

TUC’S ACTIONS: FULLY ENDORSED

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) fully endorses the wise actions taken by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on behalf of the suffering working class of Ghana to absent itself from PURC committee meetings, and proceed with their strike action. Whilst government feels otherwise, it is important for the TUC to know that, the majority of Ghanaians stand by their actions as matter of principle.

Its AFAG’s belief that, the TUC has the right to absent itself and hence be absolved from any further decision by the PURC that will compromise or conflict with their strike action come November 18th.

AFAG differs with the TUC on its incremental position to utility tariff adjustments, however we wholly support the stand of labor to resist the recently announced tariff adjustments by the PURC. In AFAG’s view, those tariff adjustments lacked merit vis-à-vis value for money with respect to utility service provision in the country.

The PURC’s recent action can be reduced merely to an act of committing economic crime against Ghanaians. Utility service agencies like the ECG has been filled with crass administrative and financial inefficiencies yet the PURC saw it wise to approve such sudden astronomical increases in utility tariffs.

The PURC talk of doing a better bargain, and hence reaching a good deal. But the question of what deal they reached with Ghanaians before going to the negotiating table with the utility service providers is yet to be answered.

The PURC must be up and doing and better depart from the rhetoric’s of been autonomous whilst they are continuously been whipped into action by the stretch of hidden forces. If the PURC was indeed autonomous, they would never have rewarded the grossly incompetent Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with such an astronomical increase in tariff adjustment.

We call on all citizens as a matter of principle to stand solidly behind the TUC in this all-time fight for survival. AFAG will be shocked to the marrow if the TUC do a U turn after meetings with government.

God save Ghana!!!!