ICEM questions World Bank economic forecasts

Accra, June 18, GNA- The International Federation of the Chemical, Energy, Mines and General Workers Union (ICEM) has called for critical evaluation of future world bank economic forecasts in view of the global credit crunch.

According to Mr Prince Ankrah, Executive Committee Member of ICEM, a meeting of the union in Geneva, expressed surprise that although the World Bank predicted astronomical economic growth on the global scale, the situation turned otherwise for traditionally well grounded economic giants like the US and Britain.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday, he said the credit crunch also led to job losses. Mr Ankrah said the money market could be monitored and managed in order to minimize its devastating effects on pension and other funds. He said the meeting condemned Mining companies which carry out their business activities in conflict zones looking for it termed 'dirty gold' and 'blood diamonds'.

Mr Ankrah said ICEM resolved to wage a campaign to discourage such nefarious activities. He said the union would implement a planned organisational development programme to facilitate a stronger union.

The Executive Committee tasked affiliates to liaise with the appropriate government agencies to help facilitate the International Labour Convention 176 (1995) on health and safety in Mines. This convention stressed the need for the right of workers to withdraw from hazardous working conditions as well as the right to have joint inspections in the event of investigative accidents by the Mines Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission.