Labour unions asked to preach against political violence.

Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has invited the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other workers’ organizations to join the crusade to protect the national peace before, during and after the December polls.

He described as unfortunate the reported incidence of physical attacks and intimidation at the on-going biometric voter registration and said this should give cause for all to sit up.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah was addressing hundreds of workers at a “May Day” parade at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi.

“Within this short period, we have become intolerant and suspicious of one another and this certainly is unhelpful in view of the possible adverse effects on the democratic credentials of our country”, he said.

The Regional Minister reminded the people to avoid acts likely to engender confrontation and conflicts, particularly as the nation makes feverish preparations towards the upcoming general elections.

“Any tendency that will disturb the peace, stability and progress of the nation must be avoided”, he added.

The workers drawn from the various labour unions and councils had earlier marched through some principal streets of Kumasi, holding placards with messages like “Politicians watch your okra mouth”, “Government stop the brain drain”, “Vote wisely with your thumps and not tongue”, “Workers need more pay”, “Workers are suffering” and “No one is above the law.”

The role of workers in securing peaceful and fair elections” was the theme.

In an address read for him, Mr Kofi Asamoah, Secretary-General of the TUC, appealed to the government and employers to support the organization in its quest for a living wage.

He stated that labour would not compromise on workers’ rights and warned that employers would not be allowed to take undue advantage of the high level of joblessness to cheat employees.

Mr Asamoah appealed to the government to also break the tradition of fiscal recklessness that had characterized every election year.

He said organized labour was not happy with the continued fall of the cedi and urged managers of the economy to act decisively to stop this and protect the local currency.

Twenty-Eight (28) workers were honoured for outstanding performance. **