Accra Labour Leaders Arrive

Lagos, Nigeria -- Members of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) an umbrella organisation of industrial unions in Ghana would arrive this country tomorrow for a bilateral conference with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The conference is the second in the series of bilateral conferences towards jointly finding solutions to problems facing workers in Africa.

The phase of the programme titled "Trade Union Experience in Political Involvement" was held in Abuja last year. The conference drew participants from the Central Unica Dos Trabalhadores (Central Organisation of Workers) of Brazil, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) the Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

This conference which would draw participants from all the 29 industrial unions affiliated to the NLC and all affiliates of the GTUC, aims at establishing and promoting fraternity between the between Ghanaian and Nigerian workers as a basis for enhanced sub-regional co-operation and solidarity.

In a press release yesterday, the Senior Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Elder Linus Ukamba disclosed that workers from both countries would share experiences on areas of mutual concern and adopt a common agenda and Strategy of strengthening workers participation in the economic integration of West Africa sub-region.

He also stated that the role of trade unions in promoting the growth and development of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) and the African Union would be identified as well as establishment of a links with counterpart unions in both countries.

Other objectives which the conference is expected to achieve include evolving collective programmes and perspectives to strengthen labour's role within the sub-region, continent and the world at large.

Dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include Olusegun Obasanjo, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'abba, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Musa Gwadabe and the Ghanaian High Com-missioner in the country.

Other dignitaries include the Area Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Cornelius Dzakpazu, the country Director of the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity, Brother Anthony Jones, the Minister of African Co-operation and Integration, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Sule Lamido.