TUC still oppose water privatization

Tamale (Northern Region) ---- Kwesi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, on Thursday renewed the labour movement's opposition to the intended water privatisation by the government.

''The privatisation of water is a deliberate policy choice by the government. As long as this is so, there are alternative policy choices and we intend to submit a memorandum on the issue to parliament.''

Adu-Amankwah was addressing a Northern Regional Council of Labour meeting in Tamale, at which he led delegates to discuss a draft document on poverty reduction to wealth creation; building consensus on a vision for Ghana prepared by the National Development Planning Commission.

The document sets out long-term development planning policies and strategies including a new vision for the country. The final draft would be presented to the President for review and presentation to parliament.

Adu-Amankwah told the delegates that ''there is room for us to let our voices he heard on water privatisation. ''Members of the labour movement need to be educated to have a complete understanding of the issue so that we can decide how much more we want the government to hear on our stand on water privatisation.''

He added: ''if we mobilise well it is possible for us to change this policy direction.'' The TUC secretary-General said, however, that the members of the organisation reed to inform themselves first to be able to make policy interactions.

Adu-Amankwah said in an era of pluralism, the TUC must continue to attract members since the organisation's strength lies on its members. He urged the members not to be complacent with whatever gains they have achieved but to continue the struggle, as working people, to promote their interests.

The Secretary-General urged the District Council of Labour to open bank accounts as the regional secretariats of the council have done to promote transparency and efficiency.

Daniel Laweh Freeman, Chairman of the Regional Council of Labour, appealed to the tripartite committee to give workers realistic wages next year. ''As we call on the tripartite committee to give us realistic wages we should also play our part by increasing productivity to justify our demand.''

Freeman called on the various unions under the TUC to close their ranks and work towards merging into bigger and stronger bodies to be able to stand up to the negative fall-outs of globalisation.

He advised the five groups that have formed another labour movement, the Ghana Federation of Labour, to join hands with the TUC in the interest of trade union unity and prosperity.

Presenting her report, Mrs. Nadia Ibrahimah, the Regional Secretary, said the state of emergency in Dagbon has adversely affected the work of the regional secretariat of the council of labour.