We will place national interest first - Mills tells TUC

Accra, July 10, GNA - The leader and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor John Evans Atta Mills, has told the Trades Union Congress (TUC) that his government would at all times put the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians first. Professor Mills made the pledge when he met the Steering Committee, made up of 17 General Secretaries and other members of affiliated unions of the TUC, on Wednesday, at the headquarters of organised labour in Accra.

According to the NDC leader, as happened in the days of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, priority would be given to the Ghanaian in all spheres and others will have to wait in the queue. Professor Mills, touching on the issue of job creation, which is at the heart of the concerns of organized labour, said as a party that believed in welfarism and caring for the generality of the people, said his government would make sure that the state played an active role in job creation.

"We don't believe that, in a situation where there is an unjust world economic order, the state should stay away completely from creating jobs. As social democrats, we believe the state must engage fully in job creation and must partner the private sector in that regard," Professor Mills said. Touching on the concerns of labour as far as increasing the housing stock is concerned, the NDC Leader reminded the TUC of how the NDC government got SSNIT to provide houses for workers across the length and breadth of the country.

"Those who believe in property owning democracy, chastised us for getting SSNIT to provide affordable houses for workers, but I can assure you that we will go back to that project and give workers affordable accommodation and also create jobs in the housing sector. The property owners are in power, and you can see for yourselves the kinds of houses they are putting up, which houses are far away from the purse of the worker."

Asked whether his government would sell strategic assets like Ghana Commercial Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank, the NDC Leader gave an emphatic "no" as his answer.

Professor Mills said because agriculture was going to be one of the key policy pivots of his government, ADB in particular would go back to its core mandate of providing credit to the agriculture sector He also promised to give adequate funding to the National Labour Commission to enable it to function effectively, especially in the area of dispute resolution in order to ensure harmonious industrial relations.

"It is the toil of labour that oils productivity and builds a nation's wealth and I will make sure that I give the Labour Commission what it needs to function effectively."

On his part, the Acting Secretary General of the TUC, Mr. Kofi Asamoah, said it was his hope that if given the mandate to manage the affairs of state, Professor Mills and his government would keep to their word and make sure that they did not sell strategic national assets. According to the Acting General Secretary, organized labour also believed in the need for the state to play a critical role in job creation and was grateful that the NDC had given its word to engage the state in job creation. "Government has a role in job creation and labour does not believe that government has no business doing business," Mr Asamoah said.

He also mentioned the issues of, the need for continuous social dialogue with labour, commitment to fairness in all negotiations, improved working conditions, as well as openness and transparency in governance.

The TUC extended a special invitation to the NDC leader to be present at its quadrennial conference which is scheduled for August. Professor Mills, who himself used to be a key member of TUC via his membership of TEWU, when he was a lecturer at Legon, and PSWU, when he was with the IRS, gave his word that he would join his comrades at the conference to strategise on how to build a better Ghana. Professor Mills was accompanied by Dr. Kwabena Adjei, NDC National Chairman, Mr. D.S. Boateng and Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, both one-time ministers in charge of the Employment Ministry, Mr. Kofi Aikins, trade unionist and former chairman of the GPRTU, Ama Benyiwa Doe, NDC Women's Organiser, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, NDC Deputy General Secretary, Mahama Ayariga, MP, Bawku Central, and Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, Chief of Staff, Office of Professor Mills. 10 July 08