Labour unions need enlightened leadership

Koforidua, April 22, GNA- The Eastern Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mrs Francisca Borkor-Bortey, has said the socio-economic conditions in the country required enlightened and knowledgeable labour leaders to spearhead the labour front for industrial peace and national advancement. She stated that the development in the labour front had no place for people who aspire to leadership positions seeking their personal interests or cheap popularity through confrontations with management.

Mrs Borkor-Bortey was speaking at an end-of-term meeting of the New Juaben District Council of Labour (DCL) on Wednesday at Koforidua. She called on the workers to elect a leadership made up of those who were prepared to sacrifice their time and resources to revitalise the unions and address labour issues conscientiously.

Mrs Borkor-Bortey who gave an update on the Labour Enterprise Trust (LET), said it had created about 300 jobs in its operations involving insurance (Unique Insurance Company), water tanker service, radio taxi service, the Unique Assets Bank Limited and consumer credit scheme. She announced that the name of the Unique Assets Bank Limited is soon to be changed into Standard Trust Bank Limited upon the merger with a strategic investor.

The out-going chairman of the Council, Mr Aaron Kedjeda, who recounted some of policies the executive took up during its tenure, said it embarked on an educational programme which informed members on issues bothering on the new Labour Act, the National Health Insurance Scheme and trade union rights.

He said with the coming into force of the new Labour Act, there was the need for a united labour front at all levels and called on the leadership of the various unions to seriously consider a merger of those having similar operations because of the anticipated mergers among trans-national companies and bodies.

Mrs Borkor-Bortey later swore-in a ten-member new DCL executive with Bro. Richard Yeboah as chairperson, Bro. I.E. Agyekum as first vice, Sister Irene Addo-Mfodwo, second vice with Bro. Ampah de Korsah as seceretary for a four-year term.