Be impartial - Nana Addo tells new National Labour Commission Board

President Akufo-Addo on Friday swore in a newly constituted Board of the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The Board is chaired by Andrew Kwabena Asamoah and has Kwame Ofori-Gyau, Rose Karikari Anang, Francis Kofi Davoh, Fidelis Patrice Seddoh, John Kwame Effah Nkrabea-Darteh and James Attah Krufi Nuamah as members.

The president charged them to remain impartial in the discharge of their duties.

At a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said, “Our goal as a government is obvious and clear; we want to grow the economy as rapidly as possible. That is what we assured the Ghanaian people – a dignified standard of living.”

For him, “The competitiveness of Ghanaian enterprises, working in sincere partnership with a productive and well-paid labour force will be the determinant of the success of that goal.”

But as evident in all human undertakings, he did not rule out the fact that disputes between social partners, including Organized Labour, employers and government, are bound to arise.

It was in the light of this that he stressed the need for an impartial arbiter in such disputes, such as the Labour Commission.

“If we are to generate the serenity on the labour front that will make us reach our goal of rapid development of the economy, you can see then the size of the burden that has been imposed on your shoulders by the Labour Act of 2003 (Act 651) and its consequential regulations LI 8122 of 2006,” he noted.

President Akufo-Addo indicated, “Organized Labour holds one of the keys to the future prosperity of our nation, and that is why the relation of government with Organized Labour is so crucial to this government.”

This, he said, was part of the reason why the government had maintained and would continue to maintain good relations with Organized Labour.

He commended the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awauh, for the work he is doing in ensuring industrial peace in the country.

Considering the fact that members of the newly constituted Labour Commission have been chosen to perform this function because of their perceived impartiality, the president urged them, “Do not disappoint your well-wishers which include me.”

He has, therefore, asked them to “familiarize with all the details and the rules of procedure that are set out in the regulations and make sure that at all times you work in conformity with these provisions; that is what will guarantee the credibility of any decisions and awards that you make in the discharge of your functions.”

Chairman of the Board, Andrew Asamoah, pledged the commitment of the members to deliver on their mandate and the president’s vision of building a Ghana Beyond Aid within a short period.

“Therefore, during my tenure as the chairman of the Commission, I pledged that the Commission will do its utmost to ensure that the government, the Labour Force and all other stakeholders will work assiduously to sustain a peaceful and harmonious relationship,” he maintained.

He also seized the opportunity to thank President Akufo-Addo for the honour done him and his colleagues.