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Ghana Employers Association threaten lay-offs if power crisis continues

The crisis which has been intensified in the past few days due to challenges with Ghana Gas Company in the attempt to connect the facility to the  gas supply system of the Atuabo gas plant.

 

The Ghana Employers Association is charging government to urgently find a lasting solution to  the country's energy crisis.

The crisis which has been intensified in the past few days due to challenges with the Ghana Gas Company in the attempt to connect the facility to the  gas supply system of the Atuabo gas plant.

However, the president of the Ghana Employers Association, Alex Frimpong, in an exclusive interview with Pulse Business said

" Government will have to prioritize the energy crisis and find a lasting solution as soon as possible. The number of businesses closing down is massive, and many are been affected as we speak."

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Mr. Alex Frimpong added that a report conducted by the Employers Association is concrete evidence  of the negative impact of the energy crisis on our business.

" We have conducted a survey among our members to ascertain exactly how the current energy crisis is affecting them. So we can engage the government. Most industries are not doing well, they are spending money on fuel, which is not making them competitive enough."

The Ghana Employers' Association (GEA) is a national Employers' Organisation whose membership comprises enterprises operating in all sectors of the economy.

After independence in 1957, workers were organised under a central trade union and given powers under the Industrial Relations Act, 1958 to negotiate, enforce collective agreements, and defend their interests in all establishments.

It therefore became not only logical but also imperative that employers should come together to enhance and protect their interests as well as provide a forum for consultation among themselves and share experiences, hence the GEA was formed in 1959.

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When asked if employers will lay off workers, the president of the employers said,

" It is not something we will enjoy doing, but it will be necessary because the energy crisis is negatively affecting our business. And all over the world, labour is the first to suffer under these crisis."

Over 100,000 Ghanaians have lost their jobs in 2015, due to the energy crisis, and there threats of more being relieved of their duties due to ongoing challenges.

Some players in the manufacturing sector have revealed that they have had to cut production by 50 percent due to the current energy crisis.

On Monday, the Association of Ghana Industries, made a similar call this week in an interview with Pulse Business, where they expressed disappointment over how government has dealt with the power crisis so far.

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