Mills
reiterates need for equity in distribution, use of
national resources
Accra, Feb. 10, Ghanadot/GNA –
President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday
reiterated the need for equity in the distribution
and use of national resources to the benefit of all
Ghanaians.
He condemned the creation of a class system by some
leaders and said leadership was rather the ability
to use resources fairly to improve the lifestyles of
the people.
President Mills made the remark when a delegation
from the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) led by
its Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Asamoah called on him
at the Castle, Osu.
The delegation called to congratulate President
Mills and Vice President John Dramani Mahama on
their election to the highest offices of the land.
President Mills said improvement in the lifestyles
of the people would be the yardstick by which the
Government would be judged.
He said the Government and the TUC would team up as
social partners to address the issues of fair public
sector pay, pensions, end-of-service-benefit and the
unfair international trade terms.
On international trade, President Mills reiterated
Government’s position to protect local industries
and said Ghanaian businesses would not be allowed to
collapse at the hands of foreign companies and that
the Government was prepared to do something about
dumping to protect local industries.
He promised to engage the TUC to ensure reciprocity
in international trade by championing strong
bargaining power for Ghanaian goods.
On the global economic crisis, President Mills
observed that the nation was not immune to the
crisis and said that the views and ideas of
organised labour would be sought to reach a
consensus that would be to the benefit of the people
of Ghana.
Mr Asamoah said the TUC was ready to work with the
Government in the true spirit of social partnership
to propel Ghanaians into a middle-income country.
He said the aspirations of Ghanaians had become
clearly defined as democracy matured.
“We want good governance, respect for fundamental
human rights and workers’ freedom. We want
transparency and openness in he processes of
governance. We will like to see a determined
onslaught on corruption in all spheres of public and
private life. We need policies that will accelerate
the eradication of poverty.”
Mr Asamoah said the TUC also needed greater access
to quality health, education and decent employment.
“These are great challenges. We believe that it is
within our capability to meet these challenges. We
in organised labour will play our part.”
He appealed to President Mills to set in motion a
process to finalise the implementation of the
Single-Spine Salary Structure saying “we in
organised labour are ready to cooperate with
Government to ensure that the process of pay reform,
which started in 2006 would reach its logical
conclusion.
“We are also hoping that His Excellency will pay
attention to the low levels of income in Ghana
generally.”
The TUC delegation also urged the Government to
provide the necessary support for the Pension Reform
Implementation Committee to enable them to
facilitate the implementation of the new Pension
Act.
The TUC also appealed to President Mills to
intervene so that all public sector workers would
enjoy end-of-service-benefits being enjoyed by
public office holders under Article 71 of the
Constitution.
He drew the attention of President Mills to the
issue of trade in which concerns had been raised
with regard to the previous Government’s decision to
initial the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA)
with the European Union.
“We are disappointed for a number of reasons. First,
Ghana initialling the EPA was a stab on the back of
ECOWAS, which in October 2007 called for the
extension of the EPA negotiations deadline having
recognised the Sub-Region was not in a position to
sign or initial any form of EPA.
“In our view the action by Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire
is a threat to regional integration.”
Mr Asamoah said the secrecy that surrounded the
initialling of the IEPA raised several questions on
transparency, accountability and the right of
citizens to know what their governments are
negotiating on their behalf, adding that, the TUC
was concerned about the nature of commitments the
then Government gave in the IEPA and the
implications they had for employment in Ghana.
These included the commitment to liberalise 80 per
cent of Ghana’s trade with the EU and the removal of
taxes and said given the huge subsidies European
producers received, the commitments by Ghana would
hurt the already weak productive base of the
economy.
Mr Asamoah appealed to President Mills to open a
broader stakeholder consultation on the EPA “so that
we can chart a course that serves the national
interest”.
GNA
