Central Regional Minister, Mr. George Kweku Ricketts Hagan, has charged workers in the public sector to continue to exhibit high sense of professionalism and political neutrality to enable the country continue enjoying the current relative peace and stability.
According to him, had it not been for their sense in maturity in maintaining political neutrality and ensuring peaceful working environment, the country would have not been able to chalk any successes in its industrial environment.
He, therefore, admonished workers to avoid actions and utterances that have the tendency to trigger anything untoward so as to enable the country have a peaceful poll, come November 7.
The minister made this known during this year’s regional May Day celebration in Cape Coast over the weekend.
He assured the workers that government was working hard to manage the wage bill to ensure a win-win situation for both employers and employees to enable the country provide the much needed infrastructure to develop the economy.
He disclosed that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) hopes to join hands with organised labour, especially in pursuing the Public Private Partnership policy so as to move the country from its lower middle income status to upper middle income status.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Central Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Samuel Kweku Doughan, the Secretary General of the TUC, Kofi Asamoah, explained that his outfit chose the theme; “The role of workers in securing peaceful elections for national development” because of the urgent need for workers and their unions to dedicate themselves to free, fair and peaceful elections while drawing attention to critical election-related issues.
He called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to remain resolute and faithful to its constitutional mandate by guarding its independence and neutrality jealously so as to have a peaceful poll.
“It is absolutely necessary that in an election year such as this, the EC avoids unnecessary controversies. It must be seen to be absolutely impartial and work diligently to build confidence in itself to avoid any electoral disaster.” he pointed out.
The TUC secretary general also charged political parties to exhibit maturity and fairness in their utterance and activities by exhibiting those traits themselves instead of demanding it from others.
He assured the nation that organised labour will continue to remain non-partisan and engage its members to avoid acts and utterances that disturb the peace of the nation.
He also appealed to government to do something about the high cost of utility tariffs, especially that of electricity, to save Ghanaians from the current economic hardship.
Mr. Asamoah again made a passionate and urgent appeal to government to stem the tide of workers being abused.
Mayor of Cape Coast, Mrs. Priscilla Arhin Korankye, noted that Ghana can develop “if we tolerate each other and urged Ghanaians to ensure healthy discussions for peaceful elections.”
About 26 workers were rewarded for their hard work with Mr. David Dzogbor from the Ekumfi District winning the overall best worker.
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