Agric workers union condemns proposed merger of two institutions

Accra (Greater Accra) 8 March '99

Accra (Greater Accra) 8 March '99 The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) on Monday criticised the government for working towards the merger of the extension staff of Cocoa Services Division (CSD) of Ghana Cocoa Board and Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) without involving it in the negotiations. Mr Samuel Kangah, General Secretary of GAWU, told a press conference in Accra that the union is "weary and disturbed" about the rush with which the Government is going through the unification process without subjecting it to "transparent discussion." The Union was of the view that the overall value of the unification to the cocoa industry, agriculture in general and the economy of Ghana as a whole was not fully considered before arriving at the decision. "GAWU is the least impressed about the manner in which the unification has been shrouded in secrecy. How come a major issue that touches the very lifeblood of workers and the national economy is not subjected to public discussion?" Mr Kangah said the process will undermine the rights of working people who have negotiated conditions of employment and work in accordance with international labour standards, the constitution and laws of the nation. Recalling the creation of CSD out of the Department of Agriculture, the general secretary said this was to ensure that the Department of Agriculture concentrated on other crops to make agricultural diversification a reality. It was also to foster co-ordination and planning in the cocoa industry. Mr Kangah said CSD has served as a demonstration ground of improved cocoa growing and pursued the multiplication of improved planting material. It has provided outstations for Cocoa Research Institute to carry out trials and improved growing methods, provided centres for the training of farmers and successfully controlled the dreaded swollen shoot virus and black pod diseases. The GAWU General Secretary said the internationally acclaimed "golden high quality" of Ghana's Cocoa is ample evidence of the creditable discharge of the functions and duties by CSD. The union believes that the unification process could undermine the quality and quantity of Ghana's Cocoa production, reduce extension service delivery to cocoa farmers, worsen the extension situation of small farmers who do not produce cocoa and undermine agricultural diversification efforts. "GAWU is therefore calling on government so subject the unification process to discussion among all stakeholders." The Union would resort to court action to compel government to treat workers fairly. "We are in a constitutional era where issues are to be legally and democratically thrashed out among contending parties.", he said