Close to 600 male carters of food items (loading boys) in Ashanti region who are members of the Association of Store Boys have embarked on an indefinite strike.
On Monday 7th November 2022, they halted their operations and protested against Kumasi businessmen and women; dealers in the wholesaling of food items at Adum and other parts of the CBD.
They have strongly opposed current loading and offloading charges paid them by business owners.
Reason given is that, the sporadic upsurge in fuel prices has skyrocketed their daily expenses and for that reason the amount of money they receive vis-à-vis the number of food items they load or offload is nothing to write home about.
Money received as payment for carrying a bag of rice is 0.40 pesewas, sugar 0.40 pesewas and a gallon of 25 liters of oil 0.10 pesewas, a box of food item 0.10 pesewas.
Addressing the media vehemently and vociferously, they vowed to extend their strike action indefinitely if money paid on a bag of rice is not increased to GH 1.00, sugar GH 1.00, a gallon of 25 liter of oil 0.70 pesewas and box of item 0.50 pesewas.
Charles Adana, spokesperson for the group said “The money we receive is too small to meet our daily expenditure. Price of everything in Ghana has gone up…even common sachet water is now sold at GH 0.50, transport fares have increased and so how do you expect us to survive with this meager payment under this harsh condition.
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