Ghana to host Regional Union congress

Accra, Aug. 5, GNA - Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, on Tuesday called for a labour friendly atmosphere in Africa to ensure that investments on the continent were not exploited to its disadvantage.

Addressing a five-member delegation from the Democratic Organisation of African Workers Trade Union (DOAWTU) during a courtesy on him at his office, Mr Barimah said a good atmosphere for investment could be achieved if there were rapport between labour and government all year round.

"Labour should not continue to see itself as us and government as them and as if they were two opposing sides", he said.

Mr Barimah said in Ghana, labour and government has realised that it was a partnership in which one could do nothing without the other. "There is the need for continuous dialogue and co-operation to ensure a peaceful atmosphere at all times," he said.

Mr Barimah said Ghana's Parliament had passed a new Labour Law, which allowed pluralism and made way for the restructuring of labour partnership with government.

Mr Adrien B. Akouete, Secretary-General, DOAWTU, Africa Regional Organization of the World Confederation of Labour, said Ghana had been chosen as the first Anglophone country to host the regional congress of the Union since its inception in 1993.

"When we chose Ghana, for the first time a number of countries in Europe, Asia and the US have expressed their willingness to participate in the congress, which is already expecting about 130 delegates from all over Africa," he said.

Mr Akouete said Ghana has always been the beacon of Africa and for now it enjoys the lead role as one of the most peaceful destinations on the continent hence the call by other unions to participate, Mr Akouete said.

He urged the Minister to help participants from countries where Ghana does not have embassies and consulates to have easy access into the country for the congress.

Mr Frank Dean Adjebeng, Anglophone Co-ordinator, DOAWTU, said the congress is scheduled for September 15 to September 19 and the Ghana Federation of Labour would host it.