The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Anthony Yaw Baah has justified the union's decision to resist the 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on domestic electricity consumption.

According to him, the new tax is one too many for the overburdened Ghanaian worker and permitting it will next see the government taxing couples for the number of children they have.

Speaking at a crucial meeting on February 2 to discuss the next steps for labour after its ultimatum to the government to withdraw the tax expired at the end of the month, Dr. Yaw Baah said; “You see if we don’t fight this, tomorrow it will be on the water, the next day it may be on the number of children that we will have. This is our duty and we will do it and do well until we win this battle.”

Dr Baah said this was a clarion call, and all citizens must join the Trades Union and other 35 organised labour unions on the planned demonstration on February 13.

• Read also: TUC, 35 other unions to demonstrate on February 13 over electricity tax

“We want to entreat all public and private sector workers, formal, informal that this is a national assignment and we do not want to antagonise any employer. Please you will have your peace when you release your workers to join this demonstration.’

“We want to do this not only for workers but for workers and their families and the entire population of this country. Everybody owes it a duty to join us including the employers themselves, market women AND all those in the informal economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, he added that early on this day, February 2, Ghana Publishers wrote to inform him about the imposition of VAT on books.  

TUC and 35 organised labour unions have announced that they will embark on a demonstration on February 13, to back their demands for the 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on electricity..

This follows the government's failure to concede their demand to withdraw

The TUC and 35 other labour unions believe that they were too overburdened and therefore, this new VAT will worsen their flight.