Police warn ICU and TUC

Accra, Feb. 21, GNA - The police on Monday reiterated their warning to the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to refrain from any act that would breach the peace in their controversial right to occupancy of the Hall of Trade Union.

Mr Kofi Boakye, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander told the press in his office that the civilized thing the unions have to do was to go to court over the right of ownership and the right to occupancy. He said reports reaching him indicated that some workers were planning to forcefully eject the ICU from TUC building in Accra against an earlier warning he had given to them to refrain from any illegal action that would lead to chaos.

The ICU broke away from the TUC about two months ago and the TUC said as a condition of breaking away the ICU should quit its building and the ICU countered that the building did not belong to the TUC so they have the right of occupancy.

The TUC about two weeks ago indicated it would use legal means to eject the ICU.

Mr Boakye said the unions, as leaders of workers should bear in mind that they have responsibility to their members welfare and should give quality leadership and that "there are more pressing issues to be dealt with than the right of occupancy, which should be determined by a court."

He said the police were overstretched in fighting armed robbery and serious crime and that it would not take kindly to a deliberate act to disturb the peace "when a solution to an issue needed only goodwill and the prevalence of good sense."