Gawu Celebrates 50 years of organising agric workers

Agriculture Workers in the country have been implored to engage diligence, discipline, patriotism and dedication in their various works in order to make the agriculture sector an enviable and a more sustainable contributor to Ghana’s economic growth.

Speaking at the climax of Golden jubilee celebrations of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana held on the 1st December 2009 at Tafo in the eastern region, Mr. Kingsley Ofei Nkansah the General secretary of the Union stated that having survived the turbulence of the political, social and economic environment over the past fifty years, GAWU which still remains the biggest national union is committed to the development of the Agric sector through campaigns and training programs aimed at upgrading its members most of whom are small scale farmers. He however noted that, achievements made over have been accompanied by several daunting challenges, accentuating on the fact that the new labour Act which is constituted to meet the interest of a market driven economy as in the case of Ghana. He also challenged government to be more accountable to donors and development partners to attract support for the enhancement of the sector.

Also delivering a speech at ceremony was Mr. Yaw Baah the acting secretary of the Ghana (TUC) who stressed on the need to improve the income levels and ensure a decent pension package for small scale farmers whose incomes rank the lowest in the country. He added these and other issues confronting the sector regarding the economic and social justice of workers in the agric sector are worthy of consideration as the country look forward to achieving a middle income status in the near future.

He urged the Union to continue with its commendable efforts in its quest for improving the lives of farmers and all agricultural workers in the years ahead.

Story by Clifford Yaw Frimpong.