May Day nearly marred by confusion

This year's May Day celebration at the Independence Square was nearly marred by confusion when a section of the workers who felt discriminated against by their distant location from the podium decided to change positions.

There was jostling and bustling for about thirty minutes as they strove forward towards the platform of the VIP where President John Agyekum Kufuor, the Special Guest of Honour and Vice president Aliu Mahama were seated.

The swift arrival of the security personnel save the situation when they displayed utmost caution and professionalism by appealing and begging the crowd to move back to their respective positions as a sign of respect to the President and also allow sanity to prevail.

Some of them said, " We want to come forward for people to see who we are and know what we have to tell the President".

Identified by respective unions Tee Shirts, the thousands of Ghanaian workers carrying company goods and products used the occasion to make known their grievances and demands for government and their respective managements.

Arriving at the Square as early as 0700 hours, the workers started making known their grievances and demands in the form of songs amidst dancing.

Some of the placards mainly directed at the President read: "Positive Change must reflect in our pay", "Mr President four years is like four seconds", "How do we fend and educate our children with 9,200 cedis?" and "Insufficient wages lead to corruption Mr President."

Those that were geared towards some prominent organisations included, "Aye Fe Notse, Notse Nfo at Volta River Authority" (literally meaning, real owners are crying whiles others enjoy), "Stop using casual workers as slaves", "Privatisation of utility services will kill us" and "Save Ghana Commercial Bank from privatisation".

The workers saw the match past, which started soon after the President's address, as the crucial and best moment as they matched beautifully with their placards pointing directly at the VIP podium.

The President, the Vice and other Ministers of State cheered the workers.