Ghana needs selfless and disciplined workers

Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, Greater-Accra Regional Minister on Tuesday observed that the nation needs a new type of worker who is selfless, self-reliant and self-disciplined.

The personal and public conduct of this new worker, he said, “is dictated by the highest moral considerations, and driven by the spiritual values of hard work, sacrifice and community service.”

Nii Afotey-Agbo made the observation when he delivered the Greater-Accra Regional May Day address at the Oninku School Park, in Tema, on the theme: Election 2012: The Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful and Fair Elections.”

The Regional Minister, who represented the Vice President as the Guest of Honour, stressed the need for the working people of this nation to join forces with government in generating the ideas, policies, strategies, actions, programmes and commitments that would not only facilitate the resuscitation of the national economy, but to also build a viable self-sustaining and prosperous nation for ourselves and generations yet unborn.”

He pointed out that, in the face of the economic difficulties that confront most nations on the global scene, “it is important that labour, employers and government, must all join forces to identify and exploit the inherent, but hidden opportunities, that accompany the global crises, for our productive engagement in order to create decent jobs in the formal and informal sectors, for the working population of our country.”

Nii Afotey-Agbo pledged government’s resolve to ensure that “we pursue the best examples of prudent economic management and humane labour practices, in view of our belief that the secret behind economic successes of nations can be attributed to good political leadership, good economic and corporate governance, national inclusion, sense of ownership and partnership among employers, employees and all stakeholders.”

He saluted workers for their sacrifices, solid support, co-operation, and dedication to duty, and hoped in their collective struggle with government, a buoyant economy would be created to ensure better standards of living for majority of Ghanaians.

Mr Wilson Agana, Chairman of the Tema District Council of Labour, urged political leaders to educate their members on the need to ensure decency in the nation’s politics, especially “as we gear up for elections in December.”

Mr Agana reminded political leaders that the electorate would not tolerate those whose utterances tended to divide the nation, or derail the peace we have enjoyed over the years.

Later, workers groups present at the parade, undertook a march past, the inscriptions on some of the placards they held, read: “No good pay, no Election 2012;” Crucify corruption by passing Right to Information Bill;” “Ghana needs peace to develop;” “Stop tax on overtime” and “Stop the politics of nuclear energy now”.

Deserving and gallant workers were presented with awards at the function where, Mr Emmanuel Adzei Anang, Member of Council of State, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Sherry Ayittey, Minister of the Environment, Science and Technology; Mr Kwesi Hutchful, Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Numo Addinortey Addison, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, and Mr Robert Kempes Papa Nii Ofosuware, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, were among dignitaries present. **