The Northern Regional Minister, Honourable Alhaji Muhamed Muniru-Lemuna, has assured the labour front in the region that the economy would be stabilised to help alleviate the plight of the ordinary Ghanaians, since the welfare of Ghanaians citizenry is a priority of the NDC government.
Alhaji Lemuna, made these disclosure at the May Day celebration in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital, in a speech read on behalf of the President, John Dramani Mahama, on the Theme “Ghana’s economy a concern for all.”
He said as a social democratic party, the government view labour front as its natural allies and not an enemy to workers union, where it is open to negotiation and dialogue in order to achieve the overall interest of the state given the resources at the disposal.
President Maham, administration is fully aware of the current economic situation in the country and is doing all possible best to ameliorate the situation head-on.
He said the issue of corruption which has received public outcry in the country would be tackled with all quests it deserves.
This according to him would be done by placing greater emphasis on the strengthening of institution to live up to their bidden, thereby ensuring value for money as a nation.
John Mahama, disclosed that the National Development Planning commission has been tasked to reach out to all relevant stakeholders to address the seemingly disconnect between the newfound middle income consumption habits and the country low income productivity capacity.
He further intimated that there has been a substantial drop in the institutional neonatal mortality from 5.8 per 1000 live births in 2012 to 2.3 per1000 currently.
He stressed that as government it would work together with labour union to build bridges with them in order to find a lasting solution in the on-going labour agitation in the country. The Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Elvis Mahama, urged the government to create an enabling environment that would employ the teaming unemployed youth in the country. He bemoaned that the government claims on the Single Spine policy being the bane of the country current economic hardships was totally unfounded, whiles admonishing government to tread cautiously in it move to place a moratorium on the public sector pay rise for this year.
On his Part the Regional chairman of the organized Labour, Mr. Ibrahim Adam Sullo, emphasized that government cannot expect workers to do their part for mother Ghana when their views are treated with disdain.
He therefore urged for a paradigm shift away from the ultra-market and neoliberal economic policies to policies that place Ghanaian citizenry at the centre of the economic policy. Meanwhile, May Day is a day set aside all over the world to honour gallant workers for their in valuable contribution towards their nation building and also used as forum to discuss and to reflect on issues that are critical to the workers as well as matters in the supreme interest of progress and social harmony of them.
By Alhassan Abubakar Sadik, ISD –Reporter in Tamale, Email sadika64@yahoo.com
