Delegates elect Kofi Asamoah as Secretary General

Accra, Aug 19, GNA - A delegates' congress held in Kumasi by the Ghana Trades Union Congress has elected Mr. Kofi Asamoah as Secretary General for a four-year term.

Mr Asamoah succeeds Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwa, the immediate past Secretary General who is now engaged in an international assignment. Mr Joshua Ansah, who is supposed to contest Mr. Asamoah later stepped down, explaining that his decision was to let peace and stability prevail in the union.

The four-day 8th quadrennial congress held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was under the theme: "Social Protection for All, a Prerequisite for Consolidating Democratic Governance: The Role of the Trades Unions".

The Deputy Secretary General went to Mr. Anthony Baah when Mr Pius Quaynor withdrew his candidature at the last hour. With a vote of 302 to 275 Mr Alex Bonney retained his 16-year-old position as Chairperson when he was keenly contested by Miss Opoku Amankwa

Mr Nyame Yeboah was elected unopposed as the First Vice Chairperson whilst Naomi Miss Dedei Otoo polled 251 to beat Miss Margaret Martey and Miss Vivian Apploderpey for the position of the Second Chairperson who had 198 votes and 126 respectively.

Mr Kofi Asomaning, Regional Director of Ashante Electoral Commission who conducted the elections thanked the delegates for their level of comportment during the elections and urged that it should be reflected in the December presidential and parliamentary elections. Mr Kofi Asamoah, the new Secretary General in his acceptance speech after the swearing into office promised to bring modernity and reform into the Union to meet the challenges of the Ghanaian worker of this era of globalisation.

He called for the immediate repeal of the ruling at the High Court on the case on the Ghana Telecom-Management issue, which states that the employer can terminate one's appointment without giving explanation. Mr Asamoah said this ruling goes contrary to the Labour Act 2003 (ACT 651) as all the stakeholders agreed to abide by to ensure industrial peace and harmony at the labour front.

It is also against the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 155, which Ghana was a signatory to.

Mr Asamoah said to strengthen the base of the Ghana TUC some association were granted membership status, saying that; "we did this to give voice to the voiceless."

They were Madina Traders Union, Mokola Traders Union, Ghana Association of the Disabled and Musician Association of Ghana (MUSIGA). President John Agyekum Kufuor climaxex the occasion with a solidarity speech with Asempa Ahenie Band in attendance.