Deal For Ghanaians In Korea

THE government is to seek a Guest Worker Treaty with Korea to regularise the employment of Ghanaian workers in that country.

A similar agreement has been struck with Italy, and discussions are ongoing with Spain on the same issue.

This came to light when President J.A. Kufuor met a cross-section of Ghanaians living in Korea on Monday.

The President is in Seoul attending the first Korea-Africa forum with five African Heads of State and high ranking government officials from 33 countries. The forum will discuss Korea’s role in Africa’s development.

He asked the Ghanaians to have a sense of responsibility, knowing that they all owe the nation the duty of contributing to its development.

He noted that 50 years ago, Ghana and Korea were rated to be in the same category according to their level of development, but the same could not be said today. He said it is not because Korea is endowed with more resources than Ghana, rather the real difference is in their psychology.

"We must not just talk the qualities but must walk the qualities. Ghana has now found the right path by our choice of democracy and we must stay on course," he said.

President Kufuor said the country is now the toast of the world and acknowledged as the ‘Shining Star of Africa’, and said the secret behind the success achieved is the government’s resolve to ensure good governance and accountability.

He said that the government will next week unveil a new salary and wages package to address the distortions that had triggered off agitations on the labour front.

This will be contained in the budget statement that will be presented to parliament by the Finance and Economic Planning Minister, he said.

"Government has sat back to study the problem of salary distortions and fashioned out a system that would make all sides satisfied and cut back on strikes,’" he said.

The announcement comes at a time members of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) have deserted the classrooms and are refusing to go back to teach, protesting poor salaries and conditions of service.

Mr. Clint Jojo Dines, chairman of the Ghanaian community, in a welcome address, complained about the high taxes and import duties on used cars and spare parts at the Tema Port.

"We buy these small Korean cars, called Daewoo Tico or Kia Pride, for 300 to 400 dollars, but we end up paying about 1,400 dollars in estimated taxes," he said.

"I believe we can do better with good and appropriate tax policies to bring more people to the tax net than to flex our revenue collection muscle only at Tema Harbour," he added