Workers told to be responsible, accountable to work for progress

Tema, Oct. 05, GNA -- The Executive Director of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) Mrs. Rose Karikari Anang, on Thursday reminded Ghanaians, especially workers that the culture of responsibility and accountability has come to stay, and this requires that workers work responsibly for their progress and that of the nation. She said when workers sacrifice, exhibit patriotism and religiously put in their maximum at work to transform their institutions, not only should they feel proud but they bring honour to themselves, organisations and the nation.

She was speaking as the guest of honour at the best workers awards ceremony for 104 staff of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on Thursday at Tema as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the merger of Ghana Cargo Handling Company, Ghana Ports Authority and Takoradi Litherage Company to form the GPHA in 1986. More than 104 employees were rewarded for their meritorious work for the year 2003 to 2005.

The anniversary is being celebrated under the theme: "twenty years of port reforms, the challenges ahead".

Mrs Karikari-Anang noted that, to achieve the desired results however, there is the need for management to invest in the development of their human resource in changing skills, attitudes and strive to compete on the international market.

She said that global competition, which is becoming fiercer requires constant-re-engineer ing, human resource development and commitment to stay at the top.

She said technological advancement calls for workers who partner with management to create innovation on the job, exhibit good leadership, and demonstrate dignity in hard work.

The Executive Director commended the GPHA for achieving successes within the 20 years of the merger to transform the port to meet international standards and compete in the global maritime world.

Mr Ben Owusu-Mensah, Director General of the GPHA said in meeting the global market, the organisation has devised and implement cost-effective strategies to meet standards.

To this end, management has charted its human capital development programme and plans to ensure that the workers are not mismanaged. "Our policies have been developed with the aim of improving operational efficiency through maximizing the contribution of employees to organizational objectives".

He said mindful of the need for great control of labour cost, the GPHA has, over the years focused on cost effectiveness of manpower and develop policies, which maintain and enhance employee motivation, creativity and commitment.

In view of that, the DG said, emphasis have been laid on training and retraining of staff at both local and the international level with some gaining jobs at the international level.

In a welcoming address, Mr Gorden Anim, Director of Tema Port said a lot of achievements have been made after the merger, and mentioned some as the expansion of the ports, dredging of the berths to accommodate bigger vessels, construction of the car park and container devanning area.

The port, he said registered 13.2 average tonnes per net gang hour in 1988 compared with 62.64 average tonnes per net gang hour in 2005. According to him, before the merger work culture, employee morale and work attitudes were nothing to be desired coupled with lack of maintenance of infrastructure and equipment, adding "the port virtually came to a stand still".

The award winners were presented with certificates and electrical gadgets including television sets and refrigerators. 05 Oct. 06