I�m Impressed Prez Mahama Attended May Day Parade - Pratt

Managing Editor of Insight Newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says the mood of Organized Labour prior to May Day was to use the occasion as a platform to protest against some policy initiatives by the NDC administration. He stated that the trade union and its associates had instigated long before May Day in a very un-oblivious term that they were opposed to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and that will take advantage of this juncture to catalog their displeasure. Mr. Pratt indicated that Long before May Day, Organized labour had indicated its disapproval with regard to increasing utility tariffs, rising petroleum prices among others in the country. This follows a four-day ultimatum issued by Trade Union Congress (TUC) to government prior to May Day celebration, warning it to enhance salaries of workers or face its fury. Speaking with Radio Gold�s Alhassan suhuyini on Alhaji and Alhaji Saturday, Mr. Pratt said in spite of the fact that the President could face massive protest and humiliation due to some policy initiatives the NDC administration has taking, he attended the parade. He said the President�s speech was a �regular one�, but maintained that �the circumstances surrounding the speech are very important�. President John Dramani Mahama assured Ghanaians that government would continue to strengthen communication channels with labour and other stakeholders. Such communication channels, according to the President would improve the relations between government, labour and other sectors of society. President Mahama gave this assurance when he addressed hundreds of workers at the Black Star Square as part of the May Day celebration on the theme: "Ghana's economy: A concern for all." But Mr. Pratt bewailed that it�s rather unfortunate that most of the workers did not listen to the president, adding that the plea to the workers to come down yielded no result.